Chapter 358 - 333: Results and a Commission

Chapter 358: Chapter 333: Results and a Commission

The interrogator walked up to the alien intelligence and asked, "What is your name?"

This was a question that Louis had already asked.

The Human Federation had the tester ask this question for several important reasons.

First, to test whether a price would still be exacted if the same question was asked multiple times.

Second, if a price was still required, to test whether the cost was controllable and quantifiable.

Previously, Louis had asked two questions in total—"name" and "origin"—and the price paid was ten human lives.

By asking only for its name this time, they could, as expected, control the consumption of "food" to a single-digit number, even if a price was exacted a second time.

The third reason was the original intent of the test: food substitution.

Concentric circles of food were arranged at varying distances. If the livestock like cows, sheep, and pigs in the first circle could be used as a substitute, that would be for the best. If not, the Parasites in the second circle and the death row inmates in the third circle could serve as backups.

As for the fourth circle, it was composed of the Sisiya soldiers responsible for maintaining order at the scene; they would naturally not be affected.

The moment the interrogator asked the question, the mass of black sludge began to move.

It shot past the interrogator, flowing forward!

The first conclusion was immediately drawn: asking the same question a second time still required a price in food.

The black sludge moved with extreme speed, bypassing the first circle of livestock in the blink of an eye.

Given how densely packed the animals were, its large, puddle-like body should not have been able to get around them without contact. However, it displayed a bizarre ability to disassemble and reassemble.

In an instant, its large form broke down into countless "black droplets" that slipped through the narrow gaps between the animals, then rapidly coalesced back into its original shape.

Once reassembled, it immediately enveloped several of the nearest Parasites. After a cringe-inducing sound of corrosion, it went limp again, settling on the ground.

A short grunt emanated from it, which was captured by the high-precision recording equipment the soldiers had prepared in advance.

"The experiment is over. Return to a no-contact state."

Sikokun, standing outside the fourth circle, spoke into a microphone, the voice transmitting to the interrogator’s earpiece. The interrogator immediately shut his mouth and left without a word.

In the distance, multiple snipers lowered their rifles.

Even though the interrogator had been meticulously selected by the Human Federation, one must always prepare for the worst-case scenario.

If the interrogator had decided to act on his own accord, or harbored malicious intent and tried to ask an unapproved question, he would have been shot dead by the snipers the instant he opened his mouth.

The entire process and its results were witnessed via live broadcast by the highest echelons of leadership from the Human Federation and its member states.

They had gotten the result they wanted.

「In the Senate chamber of the Soloma Empire.」

Having watched the live broadcast, the senators all turned to look at the King.

His Majesty, who ruled the Empire, held his scepter, his face devoid of expression.

The senators began to speak. "To think it would need to ’eat’ again for a question that’s already been asked. This alien monster is truly greedy."

"Although it can’t be substituted with animals, it’s good news that it isn’t so picky as to refuse Parasites."

"It ate ten last time and four this time. If we assume a human and a Parasite are equivalent, that means its name is worth four lives, and its origin is worth six."

"A single name is worth four lives... One can only imagine how much food we’ll need to have on-site to ask a question of great importance."

"For a question like ’How do we identify Parasites,’ how much food should we prepare? Dozens? Hundreds?"

"To be safe, we should probably prepare thousands of ’portions’ and also be mentally prepared for failure. It would be a disaster if it doesn’t know the answer, or if the answer it gives is incomprehensible to humans."

"Can’t we find a way to move it into Soloma territory? That ice field is a harsh environment with terrible transport conditions. Besides, even if Yelena wouldn’t dare cause trouble, leaving such a critical asset on someone else’s turf is unsettling."

"Your Majesty, what are your thoughts?"

"That won’t be necessary," the King said slowly. "Let it stay on the ice fields of Sisiya."

"But..."

"Setting aside the question of whether it can even be moved, North Star would never agree, even if we could. This is not the time to complicate matters."

Hearing this, the senators all nodded in agreement.

The alien intelligence landing in Sisiya was a situation both North Star and Soloma could accept. If it had landed in either of their territories, the other nation would surely harbor resentment.

"What is the status of the coalition forces?" the King asked.

A senator in charge of related affairs replied, "Operations were paused due to the announcement of the new rule. However, they have now resumed, and the main forces of the three nations have converged on the border of the Black Banner Country."

"And what is the Parasites’ reaction there?"

"It seems they intend to resist to the bitter end."

"Resist to the bitter end... I wonder where they get that confidence."

The King’s hand stroked his scepter, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

Before the Apocalypse Rules, the Black Banner Country had the world’s largest population, but its military strength didn’t even rank in the top twenty.

Now, with less than a tenth of its population remaining, how could they possibly contend with the coalition forces, even if every survivor became a Parasite?

"Hmph. A bunch of fools," the senator in charge of military affairs scoffed.

"Those Parasites are probably counting on the Black Banner Country’s mountainous, landlocked terrain, thinking they can wear down the coalition by hiding in the mountains and forests. But they fail to consider that as long as the coalition maintains air superiority and cuts off their supply lines, we can starve them to death!"

"No. The previous objective was annihilation, but now it has changed to capture. This significantly increases the difficulty, and the coalition’s operational plans must be revised," the King said. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

"Yes. The coalition commanders from North Star, Sisiya, and I are planning to meet and discuss this very issue."

"Good. Tell the intelligence department to monitor global developments closely," the King said. "Perhaps these Parasites are brewing some secret plan."

"A secret plan? Could they possibly hide it from us?"

"If the Parasites have one advantage over humans, it’s that they do not betray their own kind. Tens of thousands of individuals sharing a single objective, with not a single traitor among them. That is a terrifying thought."

The King paused, then continued, "Send Adam to assist the coalition forces. His mission will be to personally capture the leader of the Parasites."

"Adam?" The senators were taken aback. "But the Eden Project..."

"The child has been born. His mission as the ’father’ is complete. Specialists will take over the child’s upbringing."

...

After the announcement of the Parasite-related Apocalypse Rule, the major powers all sealed their borders again, temporarily halting the acceptance of refugees from other nations.

Any survivors seeking entry had to agree to a condition: they would have to live in centralized containment facilities.

The purpose of this policy was, of course, to prevent Parasites from infiltrating their borders—whether they intended to cause destruction and chaos or to lie in wait and convert more people, they were a major threat.

For this reason, Guan Tong and Shangyuan Zi had no intention of going through the normal application process to enter Sisiya.

In truth, if he had wanted to use official channels, he could have contacted the Strategy Research Room. It wouldn’t have been difficult to request their assistance in the name of cooperation.

But Guan Tong wouldn’t use that method. He wasn’t going to Sisiya for tourism; he was going to settle a score. And he didn’t want too many people to know about the resolution of this personal grudge.

The two planned to enter Sisiya through the weakly defended Western Region. They first traveled to a small country bordering Sisiya in the west, only to find it completely devoid of human life.

"It looks like this place was near one of the epicenters during the earthquake rule."

Guan Tong stared at the long fissure in the earth at his feet. It stretched forward, seemingly without end.

Shangyuan Zi surveyed the surrounding ruins. She couldn’t sense the presence of any living creature.

"Is this entire country... gone?"

"It seems so."

They walked for an hour or two without seeing a single living person, only occasionally glimpsing some dried, withered bones on the ground.

The feeling was hard to describe, but it gave Guan Tong a visceral understanding of the ancient saying, "White bones lie exposed in the fields, and for a thousand miles, no rooster crows."

Even though the previous Apocalypse Rules had caused many deaths in North Star, the government had always acted swiftly, dispatching teams to collect and cremate the bodies at the first opportunity. Coupled with the existence of collective shelters, death was never so glaringly displayed before everyone’s eyes, out on the open streets.

But now, stepping foot in the territory of a fallen nation, he realized the immense and direct devastation the Apocalypse Rules could inflict upon a country that had lost control.

In this oppressive atmosphere, neither of them said much, simply quickening their pace.

「By noon the next day.」

The pair successfully crossed into Sisiya.

As a major power second only to North Star and Soloma, Sisiya still maintained a semblance of order and hadn’t descended into complete chaos because of the Parasites.

However, the problem of alcoholism here was severe, seemingly exacerbated by the Apocalypse Rules. The moment they entered the border city, they could smell the thick scent of alcohol in the air.

Many Sisiya locals were passed out drunk on the roadside, clutching bottles of hard liquor. Passersby paid them no mind, as if completely accustomed to the sight.

This was the first time in Sisiya for both Guan Tong and Shangyuan Zi, so they were in completely unfamiliar territory.

Previously, when he traveled to a new place, Guan Tong’s approach was to just go and deal with problems as they arose.

But this time was different.

Guan Tong and Shangyuan Zi found a bar. A young Sisiya man with curly hair and a ruddy complexion was already leaning against the wall, waiting for them.

The young man saw them and immediately stepped forward. "You two..."

Guan Tong cut in, "You must be Black Star."

"Haha," the curly-haired young man laughed. "Looks like I guessed right. You must be my clients. Hmm, you’re about ten minutes earlier than we agreed."

What made Guan Tong’s trip to Sisiya different from his previous travels was that this time, he had used an alt account to post a job on the Ascender’s Home forum.

The one who accepted the job was a person with the nickname "Black Star," who appeared to be the curly-haired Sisiya youth standing before them.

"Come on in, you two. I’ve got everything arranged."

Black Star pushed open the door and entered the bar. Guan Tong and Shangyuan Zi exchanged a look, then followed him inside.