Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 427 Do you want to go to space?

Early morning of March 25, at the Countermeasures Research Office base.

Guan Tong, Zhang Minglu, Long Hun, and Wenren Yizhi were discussing the experiment in a small conference room.

Zhang Minglu first explained to Guan Tong in detail the previous experiments on scarlet fear by the conjoined twins, letting him know some previously undisclosed details.

Especially Lu Ruiguo's experiment.

"Lu Ruiguo, the subject whose prefrontal lobe was removed, became a source of scarlet phobia after the experiment. Anyone who makes eye contact with her will have a similar effect to looking directly at Scarlet Terra."

Guan Tong asked curiously, "Humans themselves can actually become a source of transmission?"

"Yes. The reason why the Human Rights Alliance has not made this information public is because it is worried that it will be used by evil people," Zhang Minglu said.

Dragon Soul added, "Given the madness of the Fire Thief Cult cultists and their parasites, once they learn of this, they are likely to deliberately create a large number of transmission sources to target humanity."

Guan Tong nodded. Removing the prefrontal lobe of the brain is not a complicated surgery. If the evil organization were to obtain this information, it's easy to imagine they would arrest someone and forcibly remove it.

Zhang Minglu continued, "That test subject had a significantly lower level of intelligence than the average person due to a lobotomy. However, she was specially selected by Lu Ruiguo, the person in charge of the experiment, because she still retained some rationality and could communicate."

"Since you were able to communicate, what questions did you ask her after she became the source of the information?"

"Unfortunately, after she became the source of the transmission, she was no longer able to communicate normally. However, based on our observations, she started talking to herself frequently. We have placed a listening device on her, and her talking to herself these days has been recorded."

As Zhang Minglu spoke, he pressed the play button on a laptop on the table.

An audio clip played, revealing a woman's intermittent mumbling.

"I don't understand...I don't know...what..."

"No...I don't want that..."

"I can't...do it...I can't do it..."

After playing for a short while, Zhang Minglu pressed stop.

"So, what did you hear?" he asked.

Guan Tong thought for a moment and said, "It's like they're talking to someone."

“You’re absolutely right!” Zhang Minglu’s eyes lit up. “That’s what we thought too. The things she’s been repeatedly muttering to herself these past few days are like she’s talking to someone we can’t see. And this person—let’s call him a person for now—seems to be constantly asking her to do something.”

"Is it to spread fear? Like the alien spores back then?"

"Yes and no," Zhang Minglu said. "The goal of spores is to spread and transform more of their kind. But scarlet fear can cause death, so what's the point of spreading it?"

"..."

Guan Tong was naturally confused; before reading these materials, he knew very little about this rule.

Zhang Minglu adjusted his glasses: "The Human Alliance believes that the 'unknown' mentioned in the hidden intelligence is the source of this fear that can be spread through humans. If so, it means that this unknown is harmful to humanity and not worth exploring."

Guan Tong didn't speak. He knew that if it really wasn't "worth exploring," he wouldn't be in this room right now.

As expected, Zhang Minglu's next sentence was a turning point.

"But look at these."

Zhang Minglu pulled up some photos.

The people in these photos all share a striking characteristic: their expressions are either distorted with fear or numb as death.

Many people in the foreground were wearing different styles of clothing, but towards the back, most of the people in the photos were wearing soldiers' combat uniforms.

“These are all people affected by scarlet fear,” Zhang Minglu said. “Most of the people in front are ordinary people, while the newly added ones in the back are mostly coalition soldiers.”

Allied soldiers...

Guan Tong naturally knew about the Black Flag Nation's parasitic attack on the coalition base at night.

"Some of these people are already dead, and some are still alive. But the living don't have much time left, just like the astronauts on the first two manned rockets. Once they enter a state of stress, they will only have a few days left to live."

Guan Tong understood what Zhang Minglu meant when he heard him say that.

Zhang Minglu frankly stated, "The main purpose of exploring the source of fear is to see if we can find anything to save these people's lives. Guan Tong, your 'Mental Stability Anchor' and Wenren Yizhi's 'Black Piece' abilities make the exploration relatively less risky and more controllable." Guan Tong considered for a long time and nodded, saying, "I can give it a try, but I need a lot of flowing mental energy."

If it could really save lives, he was willing to take the risk.

But taking risks is not the same as being reckless. If he is to face the tough battle of Crimson Terra head-on, he must prepare enough supplies and ammunition.

Mental energy is his ammunition, and the amount he needs is enormous.

“That’s no problem,” Zhang Minglu assured him. “As Director Gao said before, if we’re using your abilities to help others, the required mental energy will be provided by the government. Since you’ve agreed to this, let’s discuss the specific procedures.”

Zhang Minglu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as he spoke.

He didn't know whether Guan Tong would agree until he received a clear answer.

Because no matter what, this is a very dangerous thing. Moreover, since both the ability to store mental energy and the ability to stabilize the mind are concentrated in Guan Tong, it means that no one else can do it for her; Guan Tong must do this experiment herself.

From a purely safety perspective, Guan Tong might refuse, since other people's lives and deaths are none of his concern, and not helping wouldn't prevent him from successfully passing through this rule.

But Zhang Minglu believed that, based on Guan Tong's past actions, she would likely agree. However, he still felt a slight unease until he heard it with his own ears.

"Our plan is this: we'll spend three days focusing on channeling your spiritual energy, just like we did during the [Earth Dragon Turns Over] event last time. With that experience, we can channel even more energy into you in a shorter time this time."

Three days later, on the 29th, the final experiment will officially begin before the rules expire. During this time, besides relying on yourself, we will also provide external assistance with mental defense items. For example, we will have Wenren Yizhi destroy all other black pieces, leaving only one. If you carry this one with you, you can concentrate all of her mental defense power.

Upon hearing this, Guan Tong looked at Wenren Yizhi, who, although in the office the whole time, was completely lost in thought and did not utter a word.

Seemingly noticing Guan Tong's gaze, she came back to her senses.

“Okay,” she said.

Each chess piece occupies a portion of her mental energy limit. If she destroys the other chess pieces and keeps only one, concentrating all her power on it, it can indeed provide greater assistance.

"At that time, Longhun, Chen Na, Yinhu, and others will be there. Although we may not be able to provide any assistance, having more familiar people around will make you feel more relaxed."

After Zhang Minglu finished speaking, he looked at Guan Tong expectantly, wanting to know if he had anything to add.

Guan Tong pondered for a moment and said, "Let's proceed with this plan, but there's no need to arrange any people I know on-site."

Zhang Minglu was taken aback: "Why is that?"

"Although I don't want to say it, every experiment has a probability of failure," Guan Tong said calmly. "People affected by Scarlet Fear don't just die and experience stress; some will indiscriminately attack everyone around them... If my exploration fails and I don't evacuate in time, and I'm affected by Scarlet Fear, I don't want anyone around me to be attacked by me."

"This……"

Zhang Minglu really overlooked this point.

Guan Tongyi realized that this was indeed a serious problem.

Given Guan Tong's combat prowess, if he were to lose control due to the Scarlet Fear, he would likely kill everyone present!
“I think Guan Tong is right,” Long Hun said seriously. “If ‘Shadow’ gets out of control, no one can predict the consequences, and it is a huge risk to the public. Therefore, the experiment is best conducted in a place far away from people, far away from the base, and far away from densely populated cities.”

No one doubts how much damage a "shadow" with ample mental power can cause.

The scene he created on Grail Island, wielding the Grail with its infinite spiritual power, was already awe-inspiring enough. Now, so much time has passed, and apart from Guan Tong himself, no one knows how much the "shadow" has evolved.

Zhang Minglu and Longhun exchanged a glance, recalling a top-secret internal assessment conducted by the Countermeasures Research Office. The assessment subjects were renowned and powerful Ascendants worldwide, which naturally included "Shadow," who was even ranked at the very top of the assessment list.

The assessment concluded that, at its peak, with a sufficient supply of mental energy, "Shadow" could single-handedly destroy an entire legion or a city in a short period of time.

Thinking of this, Zhang Minglu couldn't help but hesitate again.

If Guan Tong is sent to conduct the experiment, what if he loses control? Who can stop him?
What price would it take to stop him...?

"What, Dr. Zhang, have you changed your mind?" Guan Tong asked.

Zhang Minglu gritted his teeth and shook his head, saying, "Everything has risks, I know that very well, but if you're unwilling to take any risks, you'll just die a slow, comfortable death, like a frog being boiled in water. I'll find a suitable experimental site that can mitigate the risks..."

He suddenly froze halfway through his sentence, staring at Guan Tong for a moment, a slightly crazy look appearing in his pupils behind the lenses.

"Guan Tong, do you want to go to space?"

(End of this chapter)