Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 333 Food Substitution Test
You can ask questions to alien intelligent beings, but the price is that humans will be devoured as food.

"So that's it."

After obtaining the on-site information from Zhang Minglu, Guan Tong understood why the authorities chose not to disclose it, and also understood the true meaning of the hidden rules.

One of the sentences states, "The interaction mode will change according to one's appetite."

The on-site situation confirms that human questions stimulate its appetite, and once its appetite is stimulated, it must eat.

However, since the official conclusion has already been drawn from practice, the hidden rules given by Guan Tong are of little value.

Knowing all this, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

"This is really..."

Guan Tong didn't know what to say.

cruel?

“It seems that the Human Alliance will transport the captured parasites there as food,” said Uehara Yuki, who was standing nearby.

As a member of the Source Tracing Brigade, Guan Tong did not hide the information he had exchanged from her.

"Yes, that's why the authorities are concealing the information. It seems that the human alliance forces from the Black Flag Nation will launch an offensive in the next few days to capture as many parasites as possible."

What questions do you think the officials will ask?

"The highest priority question is definitely 'how to identify parasites'," Guan Tong said. "If we can get the answer, it will not only ensure the accurate supply of food later, but also solve a huge survival threat to humanity."

The longer the problem of parasites is left unresolved, the more troublesome it will be for humans.

Most of the parasites are now transformed from ordinary people, so their overall combat power is relatively weak and they can be controlled.

However, as time goes by, more and more of these sublimated beings may be transformed a second time; or these parasites may gradually infiltrate important positions in official departments of various countries, which would be troublesome.

After pondering for a moment, Shangyuan Zi asked curiously, "Would that alien... Black Mud, know the answer to this question?"

"I guess I would know. Do you remember what the note was about that rule concerning parasites?"

Shangyuan Zi thought for a moment: "...The Fire Thief said it was once a best-selling product in the universe?"

"Yes. Since it's a best-selling product, it means that many civilizations in the universe know about its existence. As one of the civilizations in the universe, the alien black mud should know about the parasite, no, to be precise, it should know about that special spore."

Shang Yuanzi nodded, feeling that Guan Tong's words made sense.

“However, it seems that this rule has little to do with us or the general public,” Guan Tong said. “Ordinary people probably won’t have the opportunity to ask questions… Let alone ask questions, they probably won’t even be allowed to approach that area.”

Given the significant cost of asking questions, each question will undoubtedly be carefully selected by the consortium.

Shangyuan Zi looked at Guan Tong and asked curiously, "Don't you have any questions you want to ask?"

"I……"

How could there not be?

Guan Tong had many questions to ask.

Putting everything else aside, just considering his own questions, there are two he wants to ask: "The mystery of time travel and returning to youth" and "The mystery of the wordless book."

However, as he said, asking questions comes at a price. How will he pay it?
Are you going to go to Black Flag Country and catch a bunch of parasites yourself? But how many would you have to catch to afford the questions he asked?
Even if he could capture him, would the Human Consortium allow him to ask questions?

A thought suddenly popped into Guan Tong's mind—could the undead summoned by the [Corpse Whistle] be used as food?

He remembered that the last time he attracted a Sound Hunter under the [Silent Hour] rule, the undead were mistaken for humans.

Maybe this time...

After a moment's thought, Guan Tong continued, "Even if I have questions, I probably won't have the chance to ask them."

"..."

Although Shangyuan Zi didn't say anything, she thought the same thing.

"So, what should we do?"

It has to be said that the sudden appearance of a rule that requires no work and has no punishment has left Shang Yuanzi somewhat at a loss.

She's not the only one like this; many people all over the world are like this.

The first dozen or so rules, spanning nearly two years, almost completely reshaped human consciousness, turning humans into beings who live solely around rules.

"You can rest, exercise, or do what interests you. As for me..."

"Do you have other plans?"

"I want to go to Cissia."

Shang Yuanzi looked surprised. She thought that Guan Tong's words just now meant that she had given up on asking questions.

"Don't misunderstand," Guan Tong explained. "I didn't go to Sisia to ask the Black Mud Monster a question; I have a debt to settle."

Shang Yuanzi said, "I'll go with you." "This is my personal grudge; you don't need to get involved."

"But aren't you the leader? I'm a member, shouldn't I be acting with the leader?"

Guan Tong was taken aback upon hearing this, then nodded and said, "Alright, then let's go to Sisia together. With you as my helper, I can collect this debt more easily."

……

late at night.

Above the icy plains, apart from the howling of the cold wind, there was no other sound.

The alien intelligent entity remained in place, like a puddle of black mud spread on the ground, occasionally undulating but making no sound.

Humanity's research on it has not stopped at simply asking questions.

People also want to decipher its language, understand its physical composition, and even explore the spacecraft it travels in.

However, all of these require certain conditions.

Deciphering a language requires a large corpus of language data. However, this black mud creature, apart from answering questions, makes no sound at all, leaving countless linguists in a predicament of having no resources to work with.

Secondly, to study the body's structure, various instruments are needed. Experts unanimously agreed that obtaining a partial body slice would be ideal, but this was rejected by a conjoined group.

Previous attacks and attempts to obstruct it with bullets and psychic items had no effect. On the other hand, obtaining the slice requires obtaining permission through a question; otherwise, would attempting to do so without authorization cause it to become hostile?

The same principle applies to entering the spacecraft it occupies. Currently, some research laboratories have not been able to find the entrance even after observing it from a certain distance using instruments with extremely high magnification. If the entrance cannot be found, how can one even begin to enter?

Despite the numerous difficulties, humanity did not give up. On the contrary, the Human Alliance continued to hold various meetings to discuss how to extract the most useful information for humanity from this alien individual within just half a month.

By this time, most of the people who had been in contact with the delegation were already resting in the insulated van. However, the thought of an alien monster lying not far from the van made it difficult for most of them to sleep soundly.

Fortunately, the soldiers of Sisya patrolled and guarded the area constantly, not allowing anyone to approach, which made the delegation members feel somewhat at ease.

By four or five in the morning, most people were already asleep.

So much so that only a few people who couldn't sleep all night noticed that several more large trucks were coming.

They looked out the window and wondered if even more animals had been brought in.
The Sisyan soldiers opened the carriage and found dozens of people imprisoned inside, their hands and feet bound by chains, their faces filled with sinister and crazed expressions.

"It's a human!"

"Look!"

The noise from those who weren't asleep woke up those who were asleep as well. Soon, everyone who had been in contact with the delegation in the refrigerated truck got off and watched as the soldiers unloaded the people who had been brought in by the trucks.

As the delegation members stared in disbelief, Stochastic's voice came from the side.

"Scared?" she said. "These are all parasites that attacked humans after the [Extraterrestrial Parasite] rules ended. They are definitely not human."

Upon hearing her words, everyone in the delegation breathed a sigh of relief.

Many of them hadn't quite grasped the situation and thought these were actually human... Ultimately, it's just a matter of appearance.

If the parasite had a unique appearance, that would be fine, but the problem is that they also retain the host's appearance, body, and even memories, which inevitably makes some people feel uncomfortable and uneasy.

As these parasites were unloaded from the vehicles, soldiers also released the cattle, sheep, pigs, and other animals that had been transported earlier, driving them toward the alien individuals.

"Excuse me, what is this for? Are we going to do a test?" someone in the delegation asked Sgorchin.

"Yes, we recently received authorization from the Human Union and will conduct a food substitution test in ten minutes. Now, for your safety, please follow the soldiers and move away from this area."

Many members of the delegation were eager to get away and immediately obeyed, following the soldiers in retreat.

Louis and a few others refused to leave. He pleaded with Stochastic, "Let me stay. I want to see it for myself!"

"No."

Stochastic was unyielding, and Louis had no choice but to retreat with the others.

He turned back every few steps and saw the soldiers "arranging" food in a ring around the alien individual according to the distance between them.

Animals such as cows, sheep, and pigs were placed in the first circle closest to the alien individuals.

The parasites are placed in the second ring.

Strangely, there were also some people on the third lap.

Sgorchin didn't say who these people were, but they certainly weren't parasites, otherwise it would repeat the nature of the second circle and be meaningless.

Some members of the delegation secretly speculated that the people in the third circle were likely serious criminals brought out of prison.

After the three circles were arranged, when the time was up, a person designated by the Human Alliance walked in front of the alien intelligent individual.

Food substitution testing begins.

(End of this chapter)