Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 346 Playing the Game According to the Rules

Beixing, Countermeasures Research Office.

In Han Qiu's office, he looked at the report in his hand and shook his head at Zhang Minglu in front of him.

"Did all the attempts fail? What a pity."

“It seems your suggestion won’t work,” Zhang Minglu said. “Even dozens of control groups with balanced or even identical levels of mental strength were unable to establish a mental network.”

Han Qiu nodded: "It would be great if we had 'Shadow's' test report; his data would definitely be more valuable."

“Academician Han, I have already told you that Shadow has refused this collaboration.”

"I thought he had established a long-term cooperative relationship with the Countermeasures Research Office."

“Long-term cooperation does not mean cooperation every time. We are based on an equal footing of mutual respect. He can refuse our proposed cooperation, and we can also refuse his proposed cooperation.”

Upon hearing this, Han Qiu's lips curled up slightly, a hint of amusement in his expression: "A countermeasures research office established with the nation's resources allocated to it, is it on equal footing with an Ascended Being? Interesting."

"Is Academician Han implying something?" Zhang Minglu frowned.

"Dr. Zhang, please don't misunderstand. Your cooperation was also approved by Director Gao, so why would I question it? It's just that as long as we can't find a way to establish the mind network, we won't be able to identify the parasites."

Zhang Minglu said, "These things can't be accomplished by rushing. Besides, we don't necessarily only have the mind network as a way. If the decryption department can decipher the language system of extraterrestrial intelligent beings, we can get more methods."

"really?"

Han Qiu's face broke into a playful smile once again.

"How can we grasp something that humans have never heard of and have no concept of? I think deciphering language is completely futile. Dr. Zhang, you are a smart man, you should have similar thoughts to me."

"..."

Zhang Minglu's expression was complicated. He didn't want to admit it, but Han Qiu was right.

He also believed that deciphering the language of extraterrestrial intelligence was almost impossible, and even if there was a one in ten thousand chance of success, the result would be meaningless.

"If you and I are intelligent, then the fire-stealer is a thousand times, ten thousand times more intelligent than us. It is meaningless to try to outsmart it. The moment humans think, God laughs. That's probably the idea."

Han Qiu's words made Zhang Minglu frown deeply. This submissive attitude towards the fire thieves was not something someone in the Countermeasures Research Office should have.

"Academician Han, do you know what you're saying?"

"Of course I know. If this is a game, then we, as players, should play according to the rules set by the game creators."

"A game?" Zhang Minglu said, suppressing his anger. "This is an unprecedented catastrophe that concerns all of humanity!"

"Because this game determines the survival of humanity, we must follow the rules to pass. What we should do is understand the intentions of the fire-bringer and take the main road, instead of relying on our own cleverness to run around recklessly and fall off the cliff."

Han Qiu held up the report in his hand: "The reason why I believe that the mind network is the only way for humans to identify parasites is because the Fire Thief has already given clues in this game."

"...What clue?"

“If I were the Firebringer, I would know that once this rule is issued and the extraterrestrial intelligent beings land, humanity will definitely ask the question of ‘how to identify the parasites.’ How this intelligent being would answer would naturally be within the Firebringer’s expectations.”

"You mean the Firebringers are using this alien intelligent entity to teach humanity how to identify parasites?"

Han Qiu smiled and said, "It's not about telling you, it's just his way of playing the game, hiding clues within the game's flow."

"..."

Although Zhang Minglu disliked Han Qiu's constant talk of the rules of the apocalypse as a game, the latter's words were not without reason.

"You mean those languages ​​that humans can't understand are just a smokescreen? And the truly valuable things are only those that humans can understand?"

"That's right. If humans can't understand it, it means they don't need it. Just like when humans first asked about its name and origin, do humans really need to know what this black, viscous alien substance is called or where it comes from? It seems mysterious to the public, but in my eyes, it's just like the monsters that appeared in the previous rules, a game character manipulated by the Fire Thief."

Zhang Minglu remained silent.

Asking each other's names and backgrounds when strangers meet for the first time is a universal practice.

Therefore, when an extraterrestrial intelligent entity arrives, humans will subconsciously ask this question.

On this point, he agreed with Han Qiu.

Knowing its name and origin is meaningless. Even if we know it comes from a certain star system or planet, with humanity's current level of space exploration, we simply cannot go there.

"Academician Han, now that the 'game' you mentioned has reached a dead end, what are you going to do next?"

Han Qiu's lips curled up slightly: "If you're stuck in a game, it's either because of a bug or because you've missed some crucial item. I think it's the latter, given the Fire Thief's abilities."

"Academician Han, please stop beating around the bush."

"Okay. At the next meeting, I will propose a question to ask extraterrestrial intelligent beings, and I hope Dr. Zhang will support me. As someone highly valued by the senior management, your opinion is crucial."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Minglu immediately became extremely vigilant. Even though he agreed with Han Qiu on some points, he still felt that this person exuded a dangerous aura and could not be taken lightly.

"Academician Han, what question would you like to ask?"

“As I just said, to pass this level, you have to play by the rules. Each rule is a game in itself, and I think the rules for this game are that there are only two truly meaningful questions: one related to the past and the other to the future. Rather than being trapped in a self-imposed limitation, it’s better to plan ahead. Therefore, the question I want to ask is…” Han Qiu paused and said a very short sentence. Zhang Minglu’s eyes widened in surprise.

……

The back door of the Sisya Border Tavern.

Black Star stared at the large group of people in black, white, yellow, and green at the entrance, his eyes twitching repeatedly.

A henchman came running up, panting, and reported, "Boss Black Star, you're finally back!"

"What are all these people doing?"

"They are all clients."

"Clients? So many!"

Another woman came out of the back door and said to Black Star, "It's all because of the leak of information about extraterrestrial intelligent beings. Now countless people and organizations from all over the world are coming to join the fun."

Black Star looked at the woman: "You've accepted all the commissions?"

"Taking one job is the same as taking more. Why would you turn down money that's offered to you? Isn't that right, Black Star?"

Black Star slapped his forehead: "The problem is that so many people coming at once is bound to attract the attention of the higher-ups!"

"Haven't you taken care of all the local law enforcement departments?"

"That was before. Now that our new leader has taken office, he's expected to implement sweeping reforms, and things have been very tense these past few days because of Rijeka's death!"

The woman's eyes flickered: "Do you think it was those two Northern Star people who did it? Or are those two Northern Star people just a tool used by the new governor as a cover?"

Two North Star people came to buy information about Rijeka, and Rijeka was assassinated in prison shortly afterward. It's hard to believe that there's no connection between them.

However, Black Star, having obtained intelligence about the brutality of the struggle between Rijeka and Yelena, suspected that the two North Star people were merely a decoy, and that the real mastermind was Yelena, the governor.

Upon hearing this, Black Star said sternly to the woman, "White Star, stop guessing. Whoever did it has nothing to do with us. We are just middlemen, not detectives."

He sighed again after he finished speaking: "Oh well. So many people have already come. If I don't receive them, the 'Black Star' brand will be ruined. I'll send these people away as soon as possible. You all stay put."

After finishing his sentence, Black Star hurriedly went back into the shop to receive batches of clients.

Seeing this, the younger brother turned to the woman and said, "Sister Bai Xing, I think Brother Hei Xing's concerns are valid! What if we're really being targeted? Don't let that new governor's young age fool you, he seems quite ruthless!"

Bai Xing shrugged: "If we're being watched, we'll just move to another place. Your brother Hei Xing isn't stupid; he knows the saying 'a cunning rabbit has three burrows.' Alright, let's continue gathering intelligence."

"understood."

After his younger brother left, Shirahoshi returned to the tavern and looked at the hundreds of clients, a vague sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.

The gathering of so many people of unknown origin in Cissia is undoubtedly for the sake of extraterrestrial intelligence. What they will bring to this country is anyone's guess.

……

The landing site at night was as bright as day.

The ample number of beam lights illuminated the entire campsite.

If anyone tries to sneak in under the cover of darkness, they will be exposed to the high lumens of light and have nowhere to hide.

Moreover, the soldiers' 24-hour continuous cross-patrols, coupled with the drones hovering in the air in alert mode, make it virtually impossible for unauthorized personnel to approach the alien intelligent entity undetected.

In Scroogeur's words, "Unauthorized personnel who want to approach extraterrestrial intelligent beings have no choice but to break through the impenetrable walls they have built."

Even Guan Tong would find such a deployment extremely troublesome.

At this moment, he was disguised as a soldier, patrolling alongside Stochastic and communicating through a special encrypted channel.

This channel was originally reserved for Sgorchin and Yelena. To ensure that the secret is not leaked, Guan Tong has been temporarily added to it until the end of this rule period.

“Guan Tong, you saw how heavily guarded the scene is. I can’t just temporarily withdraw the soldiers to make it easier for you to ask questions; this simply cannot be hidden from the on-site observation team and satellite surveillance of the Joint Mission.”

"Also, you saw what happened to the person who asked the question that shouldn't have said anything this evening. If you are discovered, the sniper might not be able to do anything to you, but the People's Federation will definitely hold them accountable."

Sgorchin paused and said, "I know you are very capable, but if you were to go down the field as a whole, you might be left with no way out."

Now, like Ye Lianka, she knew Guan Tong's true identity was the Ascended One "Shadow." Aside from shock, she didn't think it would change the situation much.

"How are you going to ask the question without attracting everyone's attention? Even if you can, you can't avoid the massive amounts of undead food you've created. Do you think it's worth taking that risk for a question with an unknown answer?"

Aside from Stochastic's question, Yelena's voice did not come through the channel. She could undoubtedly receive the conversation, but she said nothing.

At this moment, Guan Tong's voice came through: "Whether it's worth it depends on the goal. For me, I'm willing to take this risk. As for how to ask the question while avoiding eye contact..."

He paused for a moment and then said, "When the time is right, I will create a field to shield satellites, soldiers, and the observation team, and I will ask my questions from within that field."

(End of this chapter)