After greeting Dr. Connors, Peter and Gwen became assistants to Ye Hai. After gathering a few more people, Ye Hai temporarily formed a small team. The members were quite basic and still in the startup phase, but Ye Hai didn't care; these individuals were merely a cover. The real results of the research would ultimately depend on Ye Hai himself.
In the lab, Ye Hai waved his hand and called out, "Peter, Gwen, come over here!"
Peter and Gwen hurried over, asking, "What is it, Ye Hai?"
Ye Hai held two syringes in his hands and smiled, saying, "Our ultimate goal is to apply our research to humans. Today, Dr. Connors asked me to prepare for the cell fusion between human and lizard blood, so I need some human blood. Are you two willing to make a contribution to science?"
Gwen complained, "You can just buy human blood at a hospital. Our blood is precious!"
Despite her protests, Gwen was already rolling up her sleeves.
Peter, however, looked slightly panicked and shook his head, saying, "Ye Hai, I'm sorry, but I'm anemic and can't give blood!"
Gwen looked at him disdainfully and exclaimed, "No way, Peter! You look healthy and full of energy. If you don't want to give blood, just say so. There's no need to lie!"
"Yeah, Peter, why don't you want to give blood? Can you tell us? I don't think it's a big deal for a guy to bleed a little. You shouldn't let a girl outdo you!" Ye Hai said with a teasing smile.
Peter's heart sank. Did he see through me? No, I can't let my serum be on that testing table; if that happens, I'll have no secrets left.
"I'm really sorry, you two, but I can't give blood!" Peter insisted, shaking his head firmly.
Ye Hai chuckled, "It seems Peter has some difficult-to-say secrets. I won't force you."
Gwen looked at Peter with scorn, thinking that if he was reluctant to give blood, he might actually have a shameful disease.
Peter felt embarrassed, a bitter and dazed feeling in his heart.
Seizing Peter's moment of distraction, Ye Hai suddenly pressed a button on the control panel. The two mechanical arms on the lab table extended and grabbed Peter. In less than a second, a needle punctured Peter's skin and drew a significant amount of blood.
"What are you doing?!"
Peter was furious; he wanted to retaliate, but his naturally low-key personality made him abandon that thought and just glare at Ye Hai.
"Ye Hai, what the hell? Let him go, now!" Gwen said, a bit annoyed, looking at him.
"Don't rush me, I'm just taking a little blood for the advancement of human evolution," Ye Hai shrugged nonchalantly as the mechanical arms came back, taking the filled syringe from Peter and retracting it into a safe.
"Peter, I've taken your blood. Don't worry; I'll keep your little secrets safe!" Ye Hai winked at Peter, releasing him from the mechanical grip.
Peter looked at the safe, wanting to rush over and reclaim his blood, but that would certainly expose his abilities. It seemed Ye Hai had already discovered my secret; he claims to keep it confidential. I hope that's true.
Seeing Peter's nervousness, Gwen found it amusing, thinking Ye Hai probably believed Peter had some kind of embarrassing contagious disease.
Having obtained Peter's serum, Ye Hai was invigorated. He started working overtime to research Spider-Man's serum. Initially, he just organized the data, using a first-level brain domain, which consumed only 1 science point a day. Once the data was sorted, he transitioned to a second-level brain domain for research, and eventually even unlocked a third-level brain domain, further enhancing his intelligence, albeit at a faster rate of science point consumption.
Activating the third-level brain domain required 100 points a day, and with only just over a thousand points available, he couldn't afford to sustain it for long.
Recently, Ye Hai had abandoned his research on lizards, bringing progress on that front to a standstill, while Dr. Connors was encountering difficulties.
In Dr. Connors' office, he and Dr. Rada were at an impasse.
Dr. Connors gazed excitedly at the little white mouse on the table, saying, "The cross-species genetics have taken effect. Freddy's leg has fully regenerated and is healthy; no side effects have been observed recently!"
Freddy was the little white mouse on the table.
"That's a miracle," Dr. Rada concurred, then looked at Dr. Connors, "But the testing progress is far too slow! You haven't made any breakthroughs recently! That remarkable genius Ye Hai hasn't made a peep these days!"
"Slow?" Dr. Connors shook his head. "I don't think so. Scientific research is a progressive process. It's not like a poet suddenly finding inspiration; we need foundational research. Once the foundational research is solid, our inspiration can take flight. Otherwise, it results in pulling up seedlings by the roots, which can have adverse effects."
"But the BOSS doesn't have time to wait for your slow research," Dr. Rada said, staring intently at Dr. Connors.
Dr. Connors paused slightly, speaking earnestly, "He must wait; there's no other way. Unless he's willing to become a guinea pig."
Dr. Rada shrugged, "He won't be a guinea pig. He's very anxious and wants you to speed things up and eliminate unnecessary steps!"
Dr. Connors' brow twitched. "What do you mean? Do you all want…"
"Exactly, human trials!" Dr. Rada stated emphatically, "You need to conduct human trials!"
"No, absolutely not," Dr. Connors refused angrily. "That's playing with lives! It's a mockery to take human lives, and besides, you won't find any volunteers!"
Dr. Rada chuckled, "We can always say it's for a flu vaccine; who's going to care? We could try it at a veterans' hospital."
"Are you serious?" Dr. Connors looked at Dr. Rada incredulously.
"What do you think?" Dr. Rada smirked and said, "Stop speaking with such self-righteousness. Richard Parker was just like that once, and what happened then?"
The outcome was, of course, a plane malfunction, the couple died, leaving only Peter Parker, now Spider-Man.
Dr. Connors felt a tremor in his heart as he silently stared at Dr. Rada, then firmly shook his head, "I can't do it!"
"Well, the formula now belongs to the company. Say goodbye to your dream of regenerating limbs," Dr. Rada said regretfully as he gathered up some materials and a vial of serum and walked out of the office. "You're fired! Clear your office by tomorrow. You can take your little pets with you."
Dr. Connors stood sluggishly, watching Dr. Rada leave. He reflected on over a decade of hard work, a dream that was about to be shattered; his heart filled with despair, then surged with anger and indignation.
"There will always be a way," he told himself, finally staring at the serum on the table. "Maybe I can try it myself!"