Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 318 The Kingdom of Seri
The Countermeasures Research Office, specifically the team responsible for parasite identification research, is reporting to Gao Liangwei.

The team leader said with a guilty look, "Based on the results of our many experiments... unfortunately, we still haven't found an effective method to identify parasites."

Gao Liangwei frowned.

“Initially, we tried various methods such as psychological inducement and keyword recognition, but only some parasites were fooled—because the intelligence level of the parasite is inherited from that of the original host. So if the original host is not very bright, the parasite is also prone to making mistakes.”

“I already know that,” Gao Liangwei said.

Based on previous reports of parasite behavior in quarantine areas across various regions, it is clear that, among parasites, some are as cunning as foxes, while others are as foolish as pigs.

The most foolish are like mindless brutes among humans, who don't think things through and attack the guards immediately after transforming. Such parasites are naturally the first to be eliminated and captured.

Those who are clever will carefully observe the loopholes in the management of the quarantine area and seize the opportunity to blend into the ordinary people, never easily exposing themselves.

This difference is related to the original host's intelligence, personality, and behavior.

“Parasitic organisms with lower intelligence and more impulsive personalities are easily ‘bluffed.’ When we directly identify them as parasites without any evidence, these types of parasites will directly reveal their identities.”

"The more intelligent parasites, however, will vehemently deny it and protest strongly, insisting on obtaining evidence from us that can prove they are parasites."

"The first type of parasite is relatively easy to detect, but the second type is more troublesome." The team leader paused and said, "We tried to control this type through some mental power tools and abilities, but all of them failed."

Upon hearing this, Gao Liangwei pressed further: "Why did it fail? Since the parasite inherits the host's intelligence, shouldn't it also inherit their mental strength? Moreover, most parasites are ordinary people, and their mental strength may not even exist anymore."

“You’re right, person in charge. That’s what we thought at first too. But the experimental results show that the spores seem to have a shielding and protective effect on the host’s brain. Any mind control or telekinesis-type items or abilities cannot be used through this shielding.”

Spores have this effect?

Gao Liangwei frowned even more deeply.

"After that, we conducted dissection experiments in the hope of understanding the parasite's brain and developing targeted drugs... but we failed. We could only find that a large number of neural networks in the parasite's brain had changed, but we were unable to intervene."

The team leader sighed helplessly: "The neural network composed of neurons in the human brain is more sophisticated than any supercomputer. With current human medical methods, it is simply impossible to study it thoroughly. We can only slowly try through experiments with the assistance of AI... This will undoubtedly take a lot of time and involve overcoming many rules."

Gao Liangwei was silent for a moment, then asked, "Isn't there any good news?"

“Oh, there is one.” The team leader perked up slightly. “We have discovered the specific operation of the parasite’s highest code of conduct, ‘diffusion’.”

"What is it?"

"The 'spreading' they talk about refers to making more people become parasites. The purpose of doing so... is currently unknown. But through anatomical experiments, we have observed that when a large number of parasites gather nearby, some neurons in the brain become exceptionally active, similar to a kind of 'resonance.' The exact function of this resonance is also unknown and is still under observation and research."

"As for how the parasites spread, they call it 'inspiration,' and their behavior is somewhat like proselytizing. The target must first accept it from the heart before it can spread by 'consuming the parasite's blood.'"

Gao Liangwei found this rather strange: "You have to accept the goal in your heart first?"

"Yes. If the target disagrees, the parasite will take different approaches depending on its personality."

“A hostile parasite may be inclined to eliminate its target directly. Alternatively, some parasites may choose to restrict the target’s personal freedom and brainwash the target to induce a psychological change.”

Gao Liangwei thought to himself, if that's the case, then there's no need to worry too much about the spread snowballing out of control in a short period of time. Because, judging from the current situation, not many normal people would be willing to become a parasite, and brainwashing takes time.

"It seems we're going to have to race against the parasite."

"Yes, person in charge. If we reduce the number of parasites to the maximum extent before they spread on a large scale, they are destined to be unable to form a large number and can only hide in the shadows until we humans have thoroughly figured out how to identify them."

"But if they run even faster and achieve large-scale dispersal... then we humans will be in great danger. Especially with almost no population growth..."

The population of Tianshui is now decreasing rather than increasing, and the existing population is being depleted, which has a huge impact.

Although smart devices and robots can perform most of the work, once the population falls below a certain threshold, the overall situation may collapse instantly and drastically.

This is not a prediction, but a reality that has already occurred in many countries.

Tianshui originally had several hundred countries, but by the time the Human Alliance was established, only thirty or forty remained.

After the earthquake rules were discontinued, the Federation of People's Associations was left with only eleven member states.

Later, France and the country were controlled by the Fire Thieves cult and withdrew from the Confederation of Peoples. Now, the Black Flag country has been occupied by the parasites, and the number of Confederation of Peoples member states is less than double digits.

These bloody tragedies are happening right before our eyes. Any country that still has a system will value its people more than gold.

This is also the main reason why members from countries such as Somaliland refuted Gao Liangwei at the previous meeting of the People's Federation; they were all too jealous of Beixing's population size.

After the report, Gao Liangwei returned to his office, informed the top management of the situation, and then summoned Zhang Minglu.

After learning the results from the research department, Zhang Minglu was disappointed, but he also had some thoughts.

"Boss, it seems that due to the difference in intelligence, the parasites will become like humans, with differences in the status of commanders and actors, and division of labor... However, since their goal is to spread continuously, they will not easily kill the humans they capture, which can be considered a good thing for now."

“That’s right, but that doesn’t mean humanity can let its guard down,” Gao Liangwei said. “If we don’t rescue the imprisoned humans in time, they will eventually become new parasites.”

"Yes, so over in the Black Flag Nation—"

Boom boom boom!
A loud knocking interrupted Zhang Minglu.

A staff member ran into the office with a very strange expression, as if he had learned something extremely unbelievable.

"Sir! The Black Flag Nation has just issued a global statement announcing that, from this moment on, the nation will be renamed 'Seri Divine Nation' and will become the world's first evolved nation, absorbing parasites from all over the world!"

Teng!
Zhang Minglu stood up abruptly, and Gao Liangwei also looked surprised.

"The Kingdom of Seri? These parasitic monsters actually dare to establish a kingdom on a human's planet?!"

Although Zhang Minglu had considered that the Parasites would establish an organization with different divisions of labor and cooperation, he never expected that they would declare the establishment of a nation after seizing the territory and cities of the Black Flag Kingdom.

"The Consortium will never endorse this statement," Gao Liangwei said, rising to his feet. "Humanity will never allow alien monsters to colonize our land!"

(End of this chapter)