Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 440 Toxicity and Appearance
On the afternoon of April 1, a remote meeting of the People's Federation was held.

In the images, the committee members are either in rooms made entirely of metal or rooms made entirely of wood; what they have in common is that there is no plastic in them.

After the meeting began, Mary was the first to raise the issue of rotating the chairperson.

"The rotation schedule for the chairmanship of the People's Federation was previously set at one year starting from the first apocalyptic rule. The first term was established after several rules were established, so the actual term was more than a year. Now, two years have passed since the first rule was established, so it's time for the rotation."

The other committee members all looked at Gao Liangwei, who calmly said, "Since this is the rule, I have no objection."

Mary immediately said, "Then let's start voting now."

Torraft then said, "Is it really necessary to be in such a hurry? The rules are a more important issue."

“Commissioner Torraft is right,” Gao Liangwei said. “It is more important to deal with the rules, and the chairman’s vote should be held after this meeting.”

"support."

"agree."

Mary frowned slightly, but seeing that the other committee members supported Gao Liangwei, she didn't say anything more.

Gao Liangwei shared a video on his screen, in which a researcher from Beixing explained the toxicity of microplastics.

The researcher stated, "Regarding the increased toxicity of microplastics in this 'microplastic harm' rule, according to preliminary laboratory data tests, its damage to the human body has increased by more than a thousand times."

When the figure of "more than a thousand times" was announced, several committee members gasped in shock.

Mary and Torraft had anticipated this, and it's likely that the laboratories in both countries raced against time to conduct experimental calculations after the rules were released.

The researcher in the video continued, "We found that the increased toxicity of microplastics stems from two aspects: First, its adsorption capacity is greatly enhanced, like a super sponge, which rapidly adsorbs a large amount of endogenous toxins in the blood and releases them in a concentrated manner inside cells, thereby damaging organs."

"Secondly, there are some additives in the microplastics themselves. Under normal circumstances, they would be released slowly. However, after the regulations were issued, their polymer structure became extremely unstable, and all the toxic additives were released into human tissues in a very short time. This is equivalent to subjecting the human body to a chemical toxin impact that would normally take decades to accumulate!"

"The combination of these two altered characteristics makes the human body exceptionally vulnerable to microplastics. Even a small amount inhaled, combined with the amount already accumulated in the body, can lead to rapid organ failure and endanger life."

"As for solutions..." The researcher in the video shook his head, "Unfortunately, there is almost only one way: physical blocking and isolation of microplastics. Or there may be some special mental tools or abilities that can be effective. But with the current level of human technology and medicine, it is impossible to stop the harm of microplastics from the drug or chemical level."

After the video finished playing, the committee members fell silent.

This brief report on the experiment is sufficient to illustrate how threatening this rule is.

However, that's not all.

Mary said, "We in Sororo have also done research, mainly on food. Please take a look."

After she finished speaking, Mary also played a video.

The video shows laboratory personnel wearing protective suits and high-grade filtering masks measuring the content of bottled water, canned goods, salt, sugar, and seafood.

All the measurement results appeared in the instrument, and the level of microplastics was astonishing.

Mary said, "As the researcher from Beixing just mentioned, the adsorption capacity of microplastics has been greatly enhanced after the rules were issued. This means that they can adsorb external viruses and contaminate the food they come into contact with. From a data perspective, commonly used human food and bottled water are extremely dangerous. If we continue to consume them at the previous frequency, organ failure will occur within two or three days at most."

"Two or three days!" one committee member exclaimed in surprise. "The time is too tight. Where can we get so much clean food in such a short time?"

Mary shrugged: "Data is data."

“Our country’s food reserves are already limited, and we must rely on external support.” Another committee member’s gaze swept over the group, finally settling on Gao Liangwei. “Committee Member Gao, can Beixing lend a helping hand?”

Gao Liangwei's expression was solemn, and he did not speak immediately.

Mary said calmly, "Let's not make things difficult for Committee Member Gao at this time. With the population size of Beixing, it's good enough if they can take care of their own people. How can they have the spare capacity to support other countries?"

Gao Liangwei didn't say anything high-sounding, but frankly said, "Yes. We haven't solved our own food problem yet, so it's difficult for us to offer any assistance."

"What should we do then..."

Several committee members from small countries looked desperate. Without aid, these new rules would surely put ordinary people in their countries at risk of death.

Toraft pondered for a moment and said, "I'm afraid Cissia can't help either. As you all know, our country has just recovered from an internal upheaval, and it's not easy to even solve the food problem for our own people."

“We in Soloma can certainly help others,” Mary said, immediately bringing a smile to the faces of the committee members from the smaller countries.

"It would be much easier for us to provide assistance if we were to become the chair country of the Federation of People's Associations."

"..."

Everyone was speechless at Mary's direct approach of negotiating terms to garner votes. However, many countries genuinely needed external food aid, so they could only nod in agreement.

This made Torraft's face look particularly grim.

As the representative of Cissia, he had originally wanted to vie for the chairmanship of the Confederation of Peoples, but now that Mary had pulled this stunt, he was sure to lose in terms of votes. Mary was slightly smug, and then said, "But let's make this clear first, we can't supply you with as much as you need; the quantity is limited."

"What if that's not enough?" a committee member asked anxiously. "Are we just going to let people die from organ failure?"

“Who says that if there’s not enough food, we can only wait to die?” Mary shook her head. “Have you all forgotten that hidden piece of information?”

Everyone was taken aback. Gao Liangwei immediately understood her meaning and frowned, saying, "Committee Member Mary, are you proposing that groups with insufficient food undergo mass injections of high-density microplastics?"

“Can’t I?” Mary asked back, holding up her hands to show the numbers “0” and “5” respectively.

"With insufficient clean food, the chance of survival after widespread organ failure is almost 0%. However, by injecting high-density microplastics, there is a 50% probability of triggering a plasmosis reaction, leading to immune toxin damage. In other words, if 100 people are without clean food and would all die, after all of them are injected, 50 of them might survive by probability... Am I wrong?"

"...But the 50 survivors will lose their fertility..."

Mary scoffed, "Being unable to have children is more important than being alive? I don't believe it."

Everyone fell silent.

This proposal, though harsh, is a choice that must be considered in critical situations.

“Then let’s begin the vote for the new chair country.” Mary raised her hand. “Those who support the Soro Empire as chair country, please raise your hands.”

……

Evening, the Book Pages Refuge.

In the living room, Shirahoshi looked curiously at the double triangle pattern on her palm: "Is this a symbol that every member of our troupe has?"

Black Star, standing to the side, was speechless: "What symbol? Didn't the leader say that this is a 'mental anchor' used to resist mental attacks?"

During the previous meeting of the four, Guan Tong proposed three formal regulations for the troupe and then gave each of Black Star and White Star a mental anchor.

This provides two layers of protection: first, with this totem in hand, one can automatically defend against mental attacks and avoid being ambushed; second, Guan Tong can use "Shadow Shift" to get to their side at any time.

Guan Tong considered this a "group perk," and that if other members joined in the future, each of them would receive one.

“I know it’s a mental anchor,” Shirahoshi said, “but if only members of the Phantom Troupe have it, then it can be considered an organizational symbol.”

"...I guess the people the commander cares about will all have this."

Although Shirahoshi's words were somewhat far-fetched, Kurohime felt that they were at least somewhat plausible.

"When Allen wakes up, have the commander get him one too," Bai Xing said.

Black Star smiled slightly. At this moment, Guan Tong came downstairs, and the two immediately stood up and said, "Commander."

“You don’t need to be so serious and reserved,” Guan Tong said. “Didn’t I say before that we are gathered together because of a common goal, and there is no strict hierarchy?”

Black Star scratched his head: "I know. By the way, Captain, I just discussed it with White Star and we made a decision."

"What decision?"

"We will not give up our role as middlemen."

"Oh?" Guan Tong asked, "Didn't you say you'd stop after your brother recovered?"

Bai Xing then said, "Captain, my brother and I believe that our vast network of Ascended beings in Sisia is our greatest value to the Phantom Troupe. We can use it to gather intelligence and also help you continue to acquire psychic power."

Guan Tong thought about it and agreed with what the two said.

They had worked so hard to establish a top-notch reputation among the Chinese and build a huge intelligence network in Sisia, it would be a real shame to give it up now.

"You can decide for yourselves," Guan Tong said. "But if it's just for the sake of the Phantom Troupe, then forget it. I don't want the members to sacrifice their time and feelings to do things they don't like."

"No, no." Black Star waved his hand. "Without the pressure of saving money for Allen, we can relax a bit and do it, then we won't be resistant."

Guan Tong nodded, and suddenly his eyes became extremely sharp!
"What's wrong, Commander?"

Both of them noticed something was wrong.

"I have something important to do and I need to go out!" Guan Tong took out a filter mask from her storage ring, put it on, and called Shang Yuanzi out of her room.

"Shangyuan, Shadow seems to have spotted our target. I'm going to check it out. You guys stay here."

Shangyuan Zitong's eyes narrowed: "Is it her?"

“Possibly. I found it in a shadow I placed in a warehouse area,” Guan Tong said. “If I’m not mistaken, she was there looking for clean food… Perfect timing, we’ve been in Yunhua for far too long looking for her!”

(End of this chapter)