Chapter 399: Base Parasitized Form Detection |
The next morning, Guan Tong arrived at the Countermeasures Research Office base as agreed.
Strictly speaking, this was his first time here. Although he had worked closely with the Countermeasures Research Office during the [Earth Dragon Rolls Over] Rule Period, he had never actually entered the base proper.
The entire Countermeasures Research Office base was built underground. To enter, regular transportation wouldn't do; one needed to take a dedicated train.
When Guan Tong reached the boarding point, someone was already waiting for him.
The person waiting was wearing a beige jacket and dark blue work pants, with a pair of military boots of a common army model on their feet.
Silver Fox turned her head upon hearing footsteps and smiled. "Right on time."
"Are we entering the base from here?" Guan Tong walked to Silver Fox's side, looking at the long track ahead leading into a tunnel.
"Of course. To get in, you need special transport."
Silver Fox took out her phone and sent a signal. Not long after, a black train emerged from the tunnel and stopped in front of the two.
The door opened with a hiss. Silver Fox boarded first, then turned back and waved to Guan Tong. "Come on up."
Guan Tong stepped into the train, and the door closed.
"This train..."
"Very ancient, right? Apparently, the base designers believed that using electronic and automated equipment for all facilities would be dangerous," Silver Fox said.
Guan Tong nodded.
That wasn't wrong. Electronic automation was convenient, but its safety level was relatively lacking.
Just like how a hard drive could store massive amounts of data, but one shake or impact could cause loss. For the most important information, having a paper copy was more secure.
Soon, as the train re-entered the tunnel, everything before their eyes turned dark.
"How long will it take to reach the base?"
"About ten minutes. What, can't wait to tour the place?"
Tour?
Guan Tong thought to himself that he wasn't here for a tour.
But since Silver Fox said that, it meant she didn't know the purpose of his visit to the base.
Guan Tong believed that probably only a few people like Gao Liangwei and Zhang Minglu knew he was here to detect if any parasitized forms were lurking. Silver Fox herself was also one of the subjects to be tested.
Silver Fox thought Guan Tong's silence meant he was here for a tour and was quite curious. "Weren't you always uninterested in the research office? What, are you considering joining this time?"
"Not at all," Guan Tong said. "I have business to attend to at the base."
"Oh~ I see. Must be confidential then, so I won't ask."
Silver Fox reacted quickly, understanding that if Guan Tong didn't elaborate, it meant he couldn't.
"Did you just return from a mission outside the city?"
Guan Tong changed the subject. He remembered Silver Fox wasn't present at the last team meeting. Li Meng said she had gone on a mission outside the city.
"Yeah, a mission that wasn't big but was urgent. I just got back three hours ago, just in time for your matter. So, I didn't even have time to rest before picking you up to enter the base. Touched?"
"Not particularly."
"You..." Silver Fox shook her head. "You won't win girls over like that. Hmm, but there must be plenty who like you, right? Not planning to date? Although this era isn't suitable for having children, dating shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"......"
"Seriously, any plans?"
"Not until the forty-nine Doomsday Rules end."
"Oh? Are you the 'worry about the world before worrying about yourself,' 'how can one have a home before the rules are destroyed' type? Doesn't seem like it. Isn't your age the prime time for raging hormones?"
Guan Tong couldn't stand Silver Fox's gossipy questions and directly ignored them, switching topics. "We're going to Fahe in the latter half of this month. Section Chief Li said one team member isn't convenient to go out. Do you know that person's situation?"
Silver Fox chuckled a few times, then said, "I do know, but I can't tell you yet."
"Why?"
"I think when two people meet for the first time, it's better to keep a bit of mystery, right? If a third party introduces them first, it's easy to create a preconceived impression. Do you think what I'm saying makes sense?"
"...It somewhat does."
Guan Tong didn't really think a few words of introduction from someone else would create a strong preconception. But since Silver Fox was being secretive and wouldn't say, he didn't ask further. He would meet them soon enough anyway.
A few minutes later, the train slowed down and gradually came to a stop.
The door opened. After getting off, Guan Tong saw a square door made of an unknown material directly ahead.
Silver Fox stepped forward to verify her iris. An electronic voice immediately sounded.
[Silver Fox, Level 3 authority, entry permitted]
The upper half of the door rose, and the lower half descended, revealing a passageway.
Silver Fox entered first, turning her head to Guan Tong. "You should have temporary authority. Verify it."
Guan Tong walked to the detector, and the electronic voice immediately sounded.
[Guan Tong, Level 7 authority, entry permitted]
"Is Level 7 the lowest?" Guan Tong asked after entering.
Silver Fox shook her head. "Level 7 is 'temporary visitor authority.' Sometimes when people from other official departments need to come to the base, they are granted Level 7 authority. This authority only allows activity in the base's public areas for a limited time and cannot enter confidential zones."
"I see. Then your Level 3 must be considered high."
"Probably in the middle?" Silver Fox explained as they walked. "The authority levels for base permanent personnel are divided into Levels 1-6. But it's said there also exists a Level 0 authority, the highest administrator authority. Maybe only Head Gao is Level 0? Of course, I don't know if that's true. The list of personnel with Level 2 authority or above is confidential."
"Then isn't you telling me this considered leaking secrets?"
"Haha, I didn't tell you who has high-level authority. Just talking about the levels themselves is no big deal. Don't be too serious~"
"......"
As they talked, the two passed through the passageway and arrived at the base lobby.
This place, as one of the public areas, seemed to be a leisure spot. There were sofas, lounge chairs, a TV, tea sets, and some people in uniforms chatting in small groups.
"This is 'A Moment of Relaxation,'" Silver Fox said. "You know, being constantly tense isn't good for work."
Guan Tong nodded.
"Alright, my task is done now that I've brought you here. Sit here for a while. I think Dr. Zhang will come find you."
After saying this, Silver Fox left first. Guan Tong found an empty sofa and sat down.
The base personnel around occasionally glanced at him. Some looked with curiosity, while others seemed to recognize him, showing expressions of surprise.
However, these people only looked; not a single one came forward to talk. Guan Tong estimated there were probably relevant confidentiality clauses in the base regulations, prohibiting permanent personnel from casually communicating with people holding visitor authority.
He sat for a while before Zhang Minglu appeared from the elevator area, walking over and saying, "Guan Tong, you're here. Come with me."
Zhang Minglu took Guan Tong to take the elevator. Guan Tong looked at the densely packed numbers on the panel; the largest one was 37.
"The base has 37 floors?"
This base was already built deep underground. Who would have thought there were dozens of floors further down? It was truly unfathomable.
"No choice. Experts from various disciplines are all concentrated here. Every important research project needs specialized laboratories, storage rooms, etc. Dozens of floors are even a bit tight and insufficient. So later, Base No. 2 and No. 3 were opened, transferring some less critical departments and institutions there."
Zhang Minglu pressed the button for the 13th floor while explaining.
"The 13th floor is the physical examination center. This time, we'll use the pretext of a temporary physical exam to have you test the base members. The specific process is to tell base members that an additional 'neural test' is being added. The subjects will enter designated rooms and wear testing tubes—the tubes are hollow inside, allowing your 'Shadow' to move through them."
"During this process, you don't need to appear before the subjects. You won't see them, and they won't see you. I think this is good for both sides, avoiding unnecessary trouble."
Hearing this, Guan Tong asked, "Not explicitly telling base members about detecting parasitized forms is to prevent any parasitized forms from going all out, right?"
"Yes. If a parasitized form learns it will be detected, it might take desperate risks, engaging in behavior that endangers the base or others' personal safety. So we must act secretly."
The elevator arrived at the 13th floor. This floor looked no different from a hospital. The rooms were predominantly white, and the air was filled with the smell of disinfectant.
Zhang Minglu took Guan Tong to a room. Pushing the door open, they saw Gao Liangwei standing inside, wearing a crisp military uniform with Senior Colonel shoulder boards.
"Head, Guan Tong is here."
"Mhm."
Gao Liangwei turned around and looked at Guan Tong.
"Thank you for your help, young man. Now, let the testing start with me."
Guan Tong was somewhat surprised to hear this. Zhang Minglu beside him said, "I was also surprised when I heard the Head say he wanted to be the first subject."
"Leading by example is fundamental for a leader. If one can't do it themselves, what right do they have to demand it from subordinates?" Gao Liangwei extended his hand. "Come on, I also want to experience what it feels like to be detected by the Mind Network."
"If Head Gao is not a parasitized form, then there will be no sensation at all."
Guan Tong extended his hand and shook Gao Liangwei's hand, activating the Mind Network.
No feedback appeared, which was within his expectations.
If there had been connection feedback, Guan Tong would have been greatly shocked—if the head of the Countermeasures Research Office were a parasitized form, Beixing would have likely already suffered heavy damage.
"No problem," Guan Tong withdrew his hand.
Gao Liangwei nodded. "Alright, Dr. Zhang should have explained the detection process to you clearly. He will arrange the relevant matters. I'll return to my office first."
After Gao Liangwei left, Zhang Minglu said, "Test me as well. Since the Head led by example, I can't be an exception either."
Guan Tong tested Zhang Minglu. No problem.
"Next are all the permanent personnel of the base." Zhang Minglu asked, "Guan Tong, you said before you could test multiple people simultaneously. I don't know the specific number?"
"I haven't tried yet. How about starting with two?"
"Alright. I'll have two subjects enter different rooms and wear the testing tubes. The other ends of these tubes are all connected to this room of yours. You can control your Shadow to pass through the tube channels and make contact with the subjects."
Guan Tong looked at the tube interfaces in the room. There were ten in total. If the test succeeded, he could use these tubes to test ten people simultaneously, greatly increasing efficiency.
Zhang Minglu worked with high efficiency and quickly arranged for two subjects to enter different rooms.
They lay on beds, wearing the tube facilities, thinking they were undergoing some new type of neural test. In reality, Guan Tong's shadow lines had already made contact with their bodies through the pipes.
The two strands of Mind Power attached to the shadow lines simultaneously gave zero connection feedback. No images or sounds representing spores appeared in Guan Tong's mind either.
"Test passed," he replied to Zhang Minglu.
"How about it? Can we add more people at once?"
"Yes. Go straight to ten."
Zhang Minglu arranged for ten subjects to enter the rooms, and Guan Tong continued testing.
All ten were fine.
"Next batch."
Wave after wave. The base had thousands of permanent personnel. Testing ten at a time would still require hundreds of rounds to complete.
To compensate for Mind Power consumption, Zhang Mingru traded Guan Tong some consumable items used for instant Mind Power replenishment.
It must be said, this was a boring chore.
But Guan Tong quickly found a bit of fun for himself.
That was, although he couldn't detect parasitized forms, his Mind Power could, to some extent, judge the strength of a subject's Mind Power upon contact.
Weaker subjects showed almost no reaction to his Mind Power contact.
Stronger subjects, however, would instinctively defend against external Mind Power contact with their own Mind Power.
It was just that no matter how strong these subjects were, their upper limit wouldn't surpass Guan Tong's, so it was still within controllable range.
Therefore, through this comparison of strength variations, even without meeting them, Guan Tong could roughly distinguish whether a subject was administrative personnel, a scholar, or an officially trained Ascendant.
"Next batch."
Another ten people finished testing. Guan Tong couldn't help but yawn.
He wasn't tired, of course. It was just that after testing over two thousand people, this mechanical labor inevitably made him feel bored.
After the next batch of ten was ready, he released ten shadow lines.
Just as he thought this round would also be uneventful, suddenly, one shadow line encountered fierce resistance!
"Huh?"
Guan Tong's spirits lifted. The moment that shadow line made contact with the subject, the latter erupted with a powerful Mind Power to counter it.
What surprised him even more was that the Mind Power seemed to be strategically proficient, destroying his shadow line through some kind of "pincer attack" method!
"This subject... is strong."
Guan Tong felt the broken, dissipating shadow line, feeling surprised inside.
Even though he was multitasking and his power was dispersed, making single-point breakthrough power insufficient, it was still far beyond what an ordinary strong individual could contend with.
This subject destroyed his shadow line within just one second of Mind Power contact. Their Mind Power upper limit... was at least above nine hundred.
Could it be Dragon Soul? Or someone else.
Guan Tong didn't contact Zhang Minglu about this because this was a Mind Power confrontation between Ascendants and didn't mean that subject was a parasitized form. If the latter were a parasitized form, it would definitely connect with his Mind Network, not just resist his Mind Power.
However... this way, that subject might guess this wasn't just some "neural physical exam."
...Whatever. Cleanup is Zhang Minglu's job. I'm only responsible for detection.
"Next batch."
The slight excitement brought by that unknown strong individual was soon worn away by more mechanical testing.
Another hour later, Zhang Minglu entered the room and told him, "Only the final batch of subjects remains."
"Really? Finally about to be free," Guan Tong said. "Have them come in. After this batch is tested, if there are no problems, we're done."
Zhang Minglu gave a dry laugh and had the final subjects enter the rooms.
Guan Tong operated as before. Just as he thought he could finally pack up and finish, images of the spore palace and those gentle whispers suddenly surfaced in his mind.
The Mind Network connected! It was a parasitized form!
He immediately severed the connection, turning his head to Zhang Minglu and saying, "The subject connected to the third tube is a parasitized form!"