Chapter 425: Do You Want to Go to Space? |
Early morning, March 25th, Countermeasures Research Office base.
Guan Tong, Zhang Minglu, Dragon Soul, and Wenren Yizhi were in a small meeting room, discussing the details of the experiment.
Zhang Minglu first explained the previous Human Consortium exploration experiments regarding the Scarlet Fear to Guan Tong in detail, letting him know some unpublished details.
Especially the experiment in Luruiguo.
"That experimental subject from Luruiguo, whose prefrontal cortex was removed, became a transmission source for the Scarlet Fear after the experiment. Anyone who made eye contact with her would experience a result similar to directly gazing at Scarlet Terra."
Guan Tong asked curiously, "A human can actually become a transmission source?"
"Yes. The reason the Human Consortium hasn't made this information public is the fear that it might be exploited by evil individuals," Zhang Minglu said.
Dragon Soul, sitting nearby, added, "Given the fanaticism of the Fire Thief Worship Cult cultists and the parasitized forms, once they learn of this, they would likely deliberately create a large number of transmission sources to use against humanity."
Guan Tong nodded. Surgery to remove the prefrontal cortex isn't particularly complex. If evil organizations got hold of this information, one could imagine them capturing people and forcibly performing the procedure.
"Since communication was possible, what did you learn from her after she became a transmission source?"
"Unfortunately, after becoming a transmission source, she could no longer communicate normally. However, based on observation, she frequently started talking to herself. We placed listening devices on her, and her self-talk over these past days has all been recorded."
As Zhang Minglu spoke, he pressed the play button on a laptop on the table.
A piece of audio played, transmitting the intermittent muttering of a woman.
"I don't understand... don't know... what..."
"No... don't want that..."
"Can't... do it... I can't..."
After playing for a moment, Zhang Minglu pressed stop.
"Well, did you notice anything?" he asked.
Guan Tong thought for a moment and said, "It sounds like she's having a conversation with someone."
"You're absolutely right!" Zhang Minglu's eyes lit up. "That's our judgment as well. The content of her repetitive self-talk these days is like she's conversing with a person we cannot see. And this—I'll tentatively call it a person—this person seems to be constantly demanding that she do something."
"Could it be to spread fear? Similar to the alien spores back then."
"Yes and no," Zhang Minglu said. "The goal of the spores is proliferation, transforming more of the same kind. But the Scarlet Fear causes death. What benefit is there in spreading it?"
"..."
Guan Tong certainly didn't have the answer. Before reviewing these materials, his understanding of this particular rule was genuinely limited.
Zhang Minglu adjusted his glasses. "The Human Consortium believes the 'unknown' mentioned in the hidden intelligence refers to this Source of Fear that can be transmitted through humans. If that's the case, it means this unknown is harmful and offers no benefit to humanity, not worth exploring."
Guan Tong remained silent. He knew if it truly was "not worth exploring," he wouldn't be sitting in this room right now.
Sure enough, Zhang Minglu's next sentence began with a turn.
"However, look at these."
Zhang Minglu pulled up some photographs.
The people in these photos all shared one obvious characteristic: their expressions were either twisted by fear or ashen with numbness.
Many of the earlier people wore various styles of clothing, but later on, most of the people in the photos wore soldiers' combat uniforms.
"These are all people affected by the Scarlet Fear," Zhang Minglu said. "The earlier ones are mostly ordinary civilians. These newer additions are mostly Joint Force soldiers."
Joint Force soldiers...
Guan Tong naturally knew about the incident where the Black Flag Country parasitized forms launched a night raid on the Joint Force base.
"Among these people, some have already died, and some are still alive. But time is running out for the survivors. Just like the astronauts from the first two manned rockets, after entering a stress state, their remaining lifespan would be only a few days."
Hearing Zhang Minglu say this, Guan Tong understood his meaning.
Zhang Minglu stated frankly, "The main purpose of exploring the Source of Fear is to see if we can find something to save these people's lives. And your 'Mental Stability Anchor' ability, Guan Tong, along with Wenren Yizhi's 'Black Piece' ability, these two capabilities relatively reduce and make the risks of exploration more controllable."
Guan Tong considered for a long time, then nodded. "I can give it a try, but I need a massive amount of flowable Mind Power."
If it could truly save people, he was willing to take the risk.
But taking a risk doesn't equal recklessness. If he was going to face the hard battle of confronting Scarlet Terra, he had to prepare sufficient supplies and ammunition.
Mind Power was his ammunition, and the required quantity was on a massive scale.
"That won't be a problem," Zhang Minglu assured. "Head Gao mentioned before that if your ability is used to help others, the required Mind Power will be provided officially. Since you've agreed to this matter, let me discuss the specific process with you."
As he spoke, Zhang Minglu subtly let out a sigh of relief.
Before getting a definite answer, he didn't know if Guan Tong would agree.
Because no matter how you looked at it, this was a very dangerous undertaking. And since both the reserve Mind Power and Mental Stability Anchor abilities were concentrated in Guan Tong, it meant no one else could do it in his place; Guan Tong had to personally conduct this experiment.
From an absolute safety perspective, Guan Tong might refuse. After all, other people's life or death wasn't his concern, and not helping wouldn't hinder his own ability to pass this rule smoothly.
But Zhang Minglu believed, judging from past series of events, Guan Tong would likely agree. Still, without hearing the confirmation personally, he felt a trace of unease.
"Our plan is this: First, spend three days concentrating on channeling flowable Mind Power into you, just like during the last [Earth Dragon Rolls Over] rule period. With last time's experience, we can channel even more into you in a short time this round.
Three days later, on the 29th, before the rule ends, officially launch the final experiment. During that time, besides relying on yourself, we will also provide external assistance with mental defense-type items. For example, we'll have Wenren Yizhi destroy all her other black pieces, leaving only one. You carry this one piece, and it will concentrate all her mental defense power."
Hearing this, Guan Tong looked at Wenren Yizhi. Although she had been in the office the whole time, she had been completely spaced out, not uttering a word.
As if noticing Guan Tong's gaze, she snapped back to attention.
"Fine," she said.
Each piece occupied a portion of her Mind Power upper limit. If she destroyed the other pieces, keeping only one and concentrating all power into it, it would indeed provide greater assistance.
"At that time, I, Dragon Soul, Chen Na, Silver Fox, and others will be on-site. Although we may not be able to provide ability-based help, having more people you're familiar with can also help you relax more psychologically."
After Zhang Minglu finished, he looked at Guan Tong expectantly, wanting to know if he had any additions.
Guan Tong thought for a moment and said, "Let's proceed according to this plan. However, there's no need to arrange for people I'm familiar with to be on-site."
Zhang Minglu was taken aback. "Why is that?"
"Although I don't want to say it, any experiment carries a probability of failure," Guan Tong said calmly. "People affected by the Scarlet Fear don't just die or enter stress states; some also attack everyone around them indiscriminately... If my exploration fails and I don't withdraw in time, if I become affected by the Scarlet Fear, I don't want anyone near me to be attacked by me."
"This..."
Zhang Minglu had genuinely overlooked this point.
Only when Guan Tong mentioned it did he realize this was indeed a serious problem.
Given Guan Tong's combat power, if he lost control due to the Scarlet Fear, probably everyone on-site would be killed by him!
"I think Guan Tong is right," Dragon Soul said seriously. "Once 'Shadow' loses control, the consequences are unpredictable for anyone, and it also poses a tremendous risk to the public. Therefore, the experiment is best conducted far from crowds, far from the base, far from densely populated cities."
No one would doubt how much destruction a 'Shadow' with ample Mind Power could cause.
Back on Holy Grail Island, the scene he created while holding the Holy Grail with infinite Mind Power was shocking enough. Now, so much time has passed. Besides Guan Tong himself, no one knows exactly how much 'Shadow' has evolved.
Zhang Minglu and Dragon Soul exchanged a glance, recalling a previous internal top-secret assessment by the Countermeasures Research Office. The assessment subjects were globally renowned Ascendants with relatively strong abilities, which naturally included 'Shadow,' and 'Shadow' himself was even ranked at the very top of the assessment list.
The result of that assessment concluded: At full strength, as long as supplied with sufficient Mind Power, 'Shadow' could single-handedly destroy an entire army or annihilate an entire city in a short period of time.
Thinking of this, Zhang Minglu couldn't help but hesitate again.
If Guan Tong conducted the experiment and lost control, who could stop him?
And what would be the cost of stopping him...
"What's wrong, Dr. Zhang? Having second thoughts?" Guan Tong asked.
Zhang Minglu gritted his teeth and shook his head. "Everything carries risks. I understand that clearly. But if we refuse to take any risks, we'll only end up dying comfortably like a frog in gradually heated water. I will find a suitable experimental location that can mitigate the risks..."
Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly paused, staring at Guan Tong for a moment. A somewhat fanatical glint appeared in his pupils behind his glasses.
"Guan Tong, do you want to go to space?"