How Could He Prove His Toughness Without Cursing Me?

"How Does This Work?"

Mike held up the vial of pale green liquid, swirling it gently in his hand. The substance inside shimmered with a viscous beauty, flowing smoothly without clinging to the glass.

"Simple. You just spray it," Chen Qiuren explained, spreading his hands. "Boss, have you ever worked in the fields? You know how farmers use pesticide sprayers? Strap one on, fill it with this stuff, and wherever you spray, the man-eating fungi will retreat."

"Wait, it doesn't destroy the fungi? It only drives them away?" Mike frowned.

Chen Qiuren immediately raised his voice, clearly exasperated. "Boss, you're killing me here! What do you expect from us under these conditions? Even Commander Wang couldn't figure this out, so why would I? Just being able to repel them is already an achievement! Let's not bite off more than we can chew; we've only been at this for a few days!"

"Fine, continue." Mike nodded, gesturing for Chen Qiuren to elaborate on the concoction's properties.

"Honestly, this formula only exists thanks to Commander Wang occasionally lending us her intelligent computing module. She's practically been our human supercomputer," Chen Qiuren said with a grin. "This solution also incorporates methods demonstrated by Wang Shi. Based on the properties of the man-eating fungi, most of Earth's current medical technology can't eliminate them entirely. At best, we can create substances they dislike and avoid."

He shook the vial slightly, the liquid shifting hypnotically. "With this stuff, a single spray can keep an area clear for three to five days. Sure, it's not permanent, but it's cheap to produce, and the main ingredients are easy to grow and extract. The primary ingredient, though..." He paused, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous smirk. "It's human feces."

"What?" Mike's eyes widened, caught entirely off guard.

"Surprised, Boss? Ha!" Chen Qiuren burst into laughter. "When we hit a dead end in our research, I got so frustrated that I—well, let's just say I made a contribution while Zhao wasn't looking. And guess what? The fungi recoiled! They showed signs of rejection, their structure weakened, and they actively tried to flee!"

He laughed uproariously, clearly proud of himself. "Who knew I'd solve the problem by sheer genius! I'm brilliant!"

Mike stared at him, speechless, scanning him up and down in disbelief. Finally, he muttered, "I don't even know where to begin with you, Chen Qiuren."

"What? You don't believe me? Science requires creativity, Boss! Results are all that matter!" Chen Qiuren defended himself passionately.

Mike sighed, setting the vial back down. What once seemed elegant now felt… tainted.

"Don't listen to him," a calm voice interjected. Zhao Siqi stepped into the room, her pristine white lab coat giving her an air of authority. "The substance works because of the fungi's innate intolerance to certain Earth-based compounds. Human feces was merely one of many tested materials, not the magical breakthrough he's making it out to be."

Chen Qiuren rolled his eyes. "Way to ruin the fun, Zhao. Can't a guy joke around a little?"

Mike glanced between the two, finally relaxing. "I figured it wasn't that simple," he muttered before turning serious. "Have the batch sent to Xiao Ci. Prep for mass production and allocate the first test run to the Polar Bear Refuge."

"Understood," Zhao replied.

"The refugees there are risking their lives clearing the fungi every day," Mike continued. "This could significantly reduce casualties. Let's get it to them ASAP."

As Zhao and Chen Qiuren left the room, Mike watched their retreating figures. He noticed how they walked a bit closer than usual, their body language uncharacteristically warm.

"Strange…" Mike murmured. "Is Chen starting to feel competitive now that Lu Nianxin's around? Afraid he might lose his place with Zhao?"

He smirked. "Zhao can't stand him. If they really are warming up to each other, I'd love to know how he's pulling it off. What a juicy little story…"

Despite the personal drama, the emergence of the anti-fungal spray was a monumental breakthrough for the broader city. While the densely populated main base had robust anti-fungal measures, countless lone survivors and smaller groups lived under constant threat. This new weapon could change everything.

"This stuff could be a game-changer," Mike mused. "Whether we sell it or use it to attract new allies, it's a win."

Still, he left the logistics to Xiao Ci. For now, there were more pressing matters to attend to—like dealing with the opportunists flooding the city.

"Some people think the apocalypse gives them license to do whatever they want," he muttered, closing the city's chat feed. "But if they're that desperate for numbers, it means they've got weaknesses. Time to figure out what they are."

Mike leaned back in his chair, the faint hum of activity from the base filtering through the walls. The wheels in his mind were already turning, strategizing the next move in this post-apocalyptic chess game.

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