by <unknown>
While repairs were ongoing, Chen Chen had restructured the power system. Not only did he switch out the transformer, but he also built a solid main control room beside the transformer.
The main control room commanded the power system of the entire data center. Furthermore, Chen Chen also refurbished this control room as a living space with two rooms, a living room and a kitchen, that covered more than a hundred square meters.
No one in the company could fathom the point of this endeavor.
Half a month later, when the main control room was ready, Chen Chen transported some furniture and living supplies at once and moved into the space.
Everyone who heard of this reacted with a stupefied expression. The only justification they could come up with was that this must be some idiosyncratic trait of the rich…
At last, Chen Chen lived alone in this multi-million mansion that had taken on the name of "Blacklight Biotechnology Data Center."
Only Chen Chen knew that, after changing from a 200KVA to a 10000KVA transformer, now he could certainly instantiate more interesting movie items…
[ol][li data-annotation-id="f3d32a96-79ea-54e4-4497-e43fa52024f6"]TIA stands for Telecommunications Industry Association. For more information, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TIA-942[/ol]
Chapter 45: Initial Research Results |
In the spacious drug laboratory, the printer kept on squeaking.
Chen Chen tore his gaze away from the electron microscope on the experiment desk and stood up with a heavy exhalation.
As his plans gradually moved onto the right track, he finally had the capital to perform research on NZT-48.
With this in mind, Chen Chen picked up the printed experiment report and quickly scanned the research results of the past few days.
Drug name: Unnamed.
Ingredients: C15H15NO2S, C9H13N, C23H21N6O3Cl.CH4O3S, C18H14Cl4N2O.
1. Molar refractive index: 44.09
2. Molar volume (cm3/mol): 161.5
…
5. Polarizability (10-24cm3): 17.47
'Erm…'
Chen Chen wore a complicated expression.
This drug, NZT-48, was created by combining multiple synthetic drugs.
In addition to some common compounds, it also involved multifunctional targeting molecules.
In the composition of NZT-48, Chen Chen discovered 2-[(R)- (diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]acetamide, α-methylphenethylamine, benzodiazepine-type loprazolam, miconazole, and other ingredients.
Holy-f*cking-miconazole…
Chen Chen had discovered many chemical formulas of drugs that were common in modern times such as modafinil and amphetamines, and he even came across the ingredients of miconazole nitrate cream???
Chen Chen searched online and ultimately found an article about how miconazole was effective as a new remyelination agent.
In the study, the team had proven that miconazole could enhance myelination by inhibiting the expression of cholesterol-producing enzymes in stem cells. The title of the research was: Accumulation of 8, 9-unsaturated sterols drives oligodendrocyte formation and remyelination.
Of course, these research results were confined to the laboratory for now. There was no concrete direction in terms of application as of yet.
Besides that, Chen Chen also found traces of N-pyridine-4-yl-piperazine-1-carboxamide, which could treat neurodegenerative diseases, in the drug.
Based on the effects of these latter drugs, Chen Chen could ascertain that part of NZT-48's pharmacology affected the nerves' myelin sheath.
The myelin sheath was a type of oligodendrocyte. They were produced by winding along the axons of neurons to form a composite cell membrane.
The main component of the myelin sheath was fat. A lipid sheath was formed by ganglion cells, which had an insulating effect. This increased the transmission speed of nerve impulses and protected the nerve axons.
In other words, besides one's training, one's reaction speed was determined by the nerves' myelin sheath. The thicker and more developed the myelin sheath was, the faster one's reaction speed would be.
The same was true the other way around.
Furthermore, Chen Chen had also discovered various essential amino acids such as phenylalanine and isoleucine, in NZT-48.
This meant that the NZT drug contained some of the nutrients needed for the brain to function at high speed. This was not surprising to Chen Chen. Conversely, it felt like an inevitable discovery.
After all, it would be impossible for a brain to maintain 12 hours of continuous, high-intensity operation without sufficient nutrients.
However, for the time being, NZT-48 appeared to be a standard neuro-synthetic drug. It was also a booster of brain metabolism and circulation, an alertness improver, and a cognitive enhancer.
During this period, Chen Chen had slowly made some discoveries by testing his bodily fluids.
NZT-48 had a certain neuroprotective effect. Its central excitatory effect was mostly through increasing glutamine synthetase, thereby reducing the production of γ-aminobutyric acid and promoting the detoxification function of nerve cells and energy metabolism activities... Right?
In terms of efficacy, the effects kicked in after 3 minutes if one took the pill orally, lasting for 11-13 hours. The drug concentration in the bloodstream reached its peak about 1 hour after oral consumption.
The bioavailability of oral tablets was 90% and the total protein binding rate was 90% too. The drug and its metabolites were excreted in urine and feces, and the apparent plasma clearance rate was 110-180ml per minute.
These were the full results of Chen Chen's research.
As he stared at this report, Chen Chen was still unsatisfied.
This was because, according to the experiment process, he had only uncovered thirty percent of the drug's composition. Seventy percent of NZT-48's ingredients were still unknown.
To find out what all those ingredients were would take more than a day's work.
If he wanted to study the drug, Chen Chen needed at least a fully functional experimental center, a large team of more than a hundred people, and an astronomical sum to fund the experiment.
It appeared that, apart from a power plant, there was another thing to add to Chen Chen's future goals.
When he thought of this, a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Chen Chen did not become dejected or discouraged by the towering obstacles that lay ahead. Instead, his ambition grew like wildfire.
Perhaps Chen Chen, who had taken NZT-48, would never suffer from negative emotions like dejection or discouragement.
After destroying all traces of his research in the laboratory, Chen Chen climbed onto the laboratory table and reconnected the surveillance cameras with cut wires that were installed in various corners. Following that, he went to the ceiling at the center of the lab.
Standing on the table, Chen Chen looked around before fishing out a lighter and aiming it at the sprinkler.
"Click!"
There was a crisp sound as a thin blue flame rose from the lighter.
"Beep beep beep!"
The smart chip in the sprinkler detected the abnormal temperature and instantly issued an alarm. In no time, the four or five sprinklers around the laboratory started spraying water like angels scattering flowers.
Soon, the entire laboratory was in ruins. Various experimental apparatuses cut off their power before being doused in the persistent rain.
Chen Chen wiped his face and turned to leave the laboratory.
The moment he came out, he saw a large group of people hurrying over from the office area.
"What's going on? What happened?"
A Mediterranean man asked in a panic as he came rushing over with a group of security guards holding fire extinguishers.
"It's fine. I just accidentally triggered the fire alarm during an experiment," Chen Chen replied calmly.
One of the security guards raced into the laboratory, only coming out after he made sure there w
as no fire. He said in a shocked, uncertain voice, "Manager, there's no fire but the experiment apparatuses…"
The group led by the Mediterranean man looked at Chen Chen blankly once more.
"Don't worry. I'll pay for it."
…
After all, renting the laboratories of other companies was not a long-term solution. It looked like it was time for Chen Chen to open an experiment center himself.
On his way home, Chen Chen planned silently.
After that, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Manager Xia, have you prepared the things I need along with the passport and visa?" Chen Chen asked.
"Chairman Chen, of the stuff you need, the small things have been prepared. They're in your home." On the other end of the phone, Xia Yin spoke in a mystifying manner.
"Alright, I'll head back to have a look."
Without waiting for a reply, Chen Chen hung up, then drove his electric car back to the industrial park.
Back in Blacklight Biotechnology Data Center, Chen Chen spotted a pile of goods on the floor the moment he entered the gate. Placed on top were a passport and a Swiss business visa.
Chen Chen took out a pair of scissors and opened the boxes. Following that, he moved them to the door of the power distribution room.
"X, it's me," Chen Chen said to the door.
"Creak."
The heavy door of the power distribution room opened in response…
Chapter 46: Planning Ahead |
"Welcome home, Dad."
The clear and boyish voice of Little X greeted when Chen Chen stepped into the control room, "Aunty Xia Yin came by the data center today."
"I know, I told her to come."
Chen Chen locked the door and placed a bunch of things on the floor. "Any other suspicious activity aside from that?"
"I noticed 3567 suspicious individuals passing through our house," Little X replied.
Chen Chen chuckled. "Those aren't suspicious individuals. They are just people getting off work."
"Oh, I don't understand…"
Little X mumbled.
Little X possessed a spectacular learning ability. It was very rare to see Little X stumped by a question beyond its intellectual scope.
After taking out the items from the boxes and making sure that they were the tools he needed, Chen Chen sat down in front of the computer. He took out the USB drive which was attached to his arm with a tape and inserted it into the computer.
After a moment, five to six packets of NZT-48 were extracted from the computer screen.
Chen Chen could not help but feel a sense of delight swelling up when he saw the newly extracted packets of NZT-48.
After purchasing the data center, he had the transformer upgraded to the largest model permitted by the government. It was able to generate fifty times the previous amount of energy generated.
This was what was known as exponential growth.
Chen Chen was in a race against time ever since the first time he had instantiated NZT-48. It took him four months to attain his initial capital fund. That was largely attributed to Zheng Jian's case which managed to put him into the radar of the higher-ups in the school.
After that, it took him another three months to alleviate the side effects of the drug.
Following that, he began to set off a trend of exponential growth.
From acquiring the second tool to the development of the Little X Translation Assistant and leading up to the collaboration with Facebook. Chen Chen had managed to accomplish all of this in just three months.
In the past, Chen Chen was so envious of people like Xia Yin who had come from wealth. Now, most of the wealthy could barely compare themselves to Chen Chen.
It had hardly been a year since Chen Chen had acquired the USB drive.
The reason that Chen Chen had instantiated so many NZT-48 this time was not because he had lost his mind but it was him planning ahead for the future.
After plenty of consideration and playing out countless scenarios, he foresaw three potential crisis he could face in the future:
First, outside interference rendered him unable to take NZT-48.
Second, losing the USB drive along with the NZT-48 while in China.
Third, losing the USB drive along with the NZT-48 while overseas.
Arriving at this thought, Chen Chen walked to the workbench and poured a packet of NZT-48 onto a plate. He then used the manual grinder that Xia Yin had bought to grind the pills.
There were several boxes of amoxicillin set beside the manual grinder.
Each time he crushed an NZT-48, he would open an amoxicillin capsule and pour out its contents. He would then replace its contents with the NZT-48 powder.
After having accumulated a plastic shell worth of ground pills, he took out a roll of aluminum foil and heat-sealed them using a small machine.
After that, Chen Chen put all of the sealed capsules back into the packaging. With this, several boxes of "Amoxicillin" were manufactured.
This method of concealing the drug was to counteract situations where someone infiltrated the data center to threaten him, preventing him from being able to take NZT-48.
In such a situation, regardless of how the other party was going to harm him, taking NZT-48 was of the utmost priority.
NZT-48 disguised as common medicine may be able to get him out of such a precarious situation.
However, a packet of amoxicillin could carry sixteen capsules at most so it would only be good for emergencies.
After that, Chen Chen took out a pot. He poured edible wax into the pot and began to heat it with an electric stove until the wax had melted.
Then, Chen Chen mixed a packet of black color food coloring into the pot.
The wax instantly became jet black.
That was not the end of it. Chen Chen then took out a packet of powder labeled "Ammonium Benzoate". He scooped up a spoonful of powder and poured them into the pot.
Ammonium Benzoate was the most bitter substance known to man. Just a concentration of 0.003% was already unbearable. It was commonly used as a bittering or aversion agent in the manufacturing process of daily necessities and industrial products.
Its most common usage was for the manufacturing of Nintendo's Nintendo Switch video game card.
The Nintendo Switch video game card was about the size of a fingernail. To prevent children from swallowing it, Nintendo applied a layer of this bitter solution onto the card.
The moment the game card touched the tongue, it would leave a strong, bitter taste like that of a grapefruit peel. It would take some time for it to subside.
When this information was publicized, it started an internet trend. A bunch of people who had nothing better to do went out of their way to buy one to taste it.
In a way, it had accomplished what Nintendo had intended.
Since NZT-48 was dissolvable in water but not in wax, he did not have to worry about it dissolving into the pot. After a round of stirring, the pills morphed from its original crystal clear appearance to an unrecognizable state.
Chen Chen scooped up the pills and dried them out on the table.
After they were dried completely, he took out several packets of chewing gum he had bought on the way here.
Instead of buying the usual round-shaped variation, Chen Chen went with the tin-shaped packaging which contained compressed candy.
Chen Chen unwrapped the chewing gum packaging and tossed out its contents. He then stuffed the air-dried NZT-48 inside…
After that, he put one of the packages of chewing gum into his pocket.
Backup.
With this, he would not have to worry about accidentally losing it. Nobody else would eat this unknown, black, and bitter candy.
These two methods should be able to deal with the first emergency scenario.
The second scenario was if he had lost the USB drive and NZT-48 in China.
The development leading up to him losing the USB drive and its cons
equences were beside the point. What Chen Chen had to figure out first was how he was going to turn the situation around or escape after losing two of his massive crutches.
Chen Chen tossed out the previous pot and replaced it with a new pot filled with water. He poured the remaining five packets of NZT-48 into the pot…
Chen Chen had already conducted experiments on NZT-48 and could not be any more familiar with its properties at this point. It could be dissolved in water, withstand high temperature without affecting its chemical properties, and exposed to the air for a long time without deterioration.
With these exquisite properties, Chen Chen did not need to worry about any accidents.
After all of the pills had been dissolved, Chen Chen retrieved a pack of high-potency edible gel and poured them into the pot.
After mixing the solution evenly, the substance in the pot turned into a translucent jelly-like substance.
Chen Chen then took out several sets of molds from under the bed and filled the molds with the liquid.
Chen Chen only took them out of the molds after they had cooled down and completely solidified.
Several soft objects made of translucent silicone appeared before Chen Chen.
Chen Chen smiled faintly when he saw these "Silica gel". He opened the fix box Xia Yin had brought over.
The contents of the box shone brightly. There were twelve bars of gold inside.
Labels like "Issued by XX Bank in Mainland China" and "Investment Bullion 500g" were etched on the gold bars.
Chen Chen barely paid a glance at the gold bars. He took out two transparent plastic boxes from under the bed and put the silica gel-like substances into the boxes.
Coincidentally, both of the plastic boxes had room for six two-fingers-wide objects.
Chen Chen fit in six gold bars into both of the boxes.
Just like that, two boxes of investment bullion weighing six kilograms were beautifully packaged.
All he had to do now was to deposit these boxes into the bank.
Banks these days had a line of business where they rented out these things called "Safe Box". People could deposit valuable items in these "Safe Box" designated by the bank.
Valuables such as house deeds, bars of gold, important contracts, et cetera.
