"So, the first stage of host addiction and spore parasitism has already appeared."
At the Counterasures Research Office eting, Gao Liangwei inquired of the analyst who had co to deliver the data report.
"Yes," the analyst said. "Based on the situation in various regions, starting this afternoon, a large number of people have begun to show cognitive changes. The most significant characteristic is that they have beco extrely protective of their lives, refusing to stay in any dangerous environnt and refusing to engage in any dangerous behavior."
"Moreover, without exception, all these individuals hold an optimistic and open attitude towards the spores. It can be judged that they abandoned their guard imdiately after the rules were announced, completely accepting the spores' transformation of their bodies."
Soone in the conference room asked curiously, "Why would being protective of one's life be the unified manifestation of the first stage of parasitism?"
"Would the parasitized form want the host to die?" Before the analyst could speak, Zhang Minglu retorted with a question.
The person who asked showed a look of sudden understanding. "Ah... I see. If the host dies, the parasitic spores would naturally lose their nutrients and die too."
"Correct," the analyst said. "We believe the spores possess a certain level of intelligence, or it could be biological instincts. Therefore, the first stage after a host becos addicted should be the stage where the spores parasitize and begin to influence the host's cognition."
Gao Liangwei asked, "At this stage, is there any possibility of reversal?"
The analyst replied, "I'm afraid it's very difficult. We have attempted conventional isolation, psychological counseling, and even conducted so forced cognitive correction experints... but all have failed."
"However," the analyst's tone shifted, "among the experintal subjects, there are so who have not completely succumbed yet, showing signs of psychological struggle. And without exception, these individuals are all Ascendants."
Everyone present was not surprised by this.
Ascendants' physical abilities are comprehensively superior to ordinary people, which naturally includes the ntal and psychological aspects as well.
But according to the analyst, such individuals are only a minority.
Most Ascendants, once they enter the 'life-protecting' stage, will succumb just like ordinary people.
"The current situation is very troubleso," Zhang Minglu said with a grave expression. "Even though the authorities have been conducting propaganda continuously, a large number of people are still accepting the spores on a psychological level. What's more troubleso is that even if we prohibit them from going out, they can still 'practice their cultivation arts' indoors."
Soone couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, who the hell ca up with that 'Cosmic Divine Spore Art'? It's screwed over so many people!"
"What I'm more curious about is, sothing so obviously ridiculous actually has this many people believing in it..."
"This falls under 'the willing are hooked.' There are probably many people who know it's fake but are deceiving themselves, afraid to face reality..."
The analyst, however, spoke up at this point. "Unfortunately, you are mistaken. According to our hypnotic interrogation experints, so of those practicing the art did indeed receive anomalous cosmic information."
Upon hearing this, everyone was greatly shocked.
Even Gao Liangwei was quite surprised. "They really received information from an alien civilization?"
"Yes. We initially thought it was hallucinations or psychological suggestion. But the experintal results show that multiple individuals who had never t or communicated with each other received similar information... The alien civilization in their descriptions has a high degree of similarity."
The conference room fell silent for a mont.
The analyst's words sent an inexplicable chill down everyone's spine.
"Then, what is the alien civilization in the information they received like?" Gao Liangwei broke the silence after a mont.
The analyst paused and said, "According to their descriptions, they saw many magnificent palace-like structures. There were also alien intelligent beings with blurred features, speaking around them with a kind attitude and gentle voices. Besides content about accepting the spores, there was one phrase that kept repeating..."
Everyone stared intently at the analyst, wanting to know what that phrase was.
"'Join our big family,'" the analyst said. "Almost everyone who received the information clearly heard this phrase."
...
At the Andu City Public Security Agency, in the special case handling area, the words "11.28 Major Explosion Case" on the large screen were particularly clear.
Yoshino, in charge of investigating this case, and many investigators within the team were gathered here.
"It will soon be a week since the explosion case, and the Director has only given us two weeks. I think everyone present is well aware of how tight the ti is."
Yoshino switched the screen image, showing so personnel data.
"Based on DNA data comparison results, these are all individuals who could be collected and were present at the scene. Most are victims, except for this person."
Yoshino enlarged a photo. The investigators below saw the na and whispered among themselves.
"The na should be pronounced 'Wu Wang,' right?"
"Is he from Beixing?"
"Quiet," Yoshino continued. "This person's DNA was detected from steel balls found at the scene, and those steel balls, after investigation, can be determined to be the explosive interdiaries."
"Because both Sakura Prayer Country and Beixing are mber states of the Human Consortium, Beixing agreed to help us run a comparison from their genetic database and sent this person's information after querying the results."
"With a photo and na, the investigation beca much smoother. We quickly learned from other channels that this person is a seller on the dark web, selling so explosion-related videos. Combining intelligence, it can be judged that he possesses the ability to detonate tal objects."
Upon hearing this, the investigators all looked shocked.
"Using tal as explosives? There's actually such an ability?"
"Then why would he blow himself up? Could it be his ability went out of control?"
"He probably wanted to perish together with his enemy," the female investigator with the [Profiling] ability offered a unique opinion. "Because what I profiled shows he had a hugging motion."
Yoshino agreed. "I think so too. This Wu Wang wanted to perish together with his enemy at that ti, so he detonated the super bomb."
"What a madman..."
"Officer Yoshino, what is the identity of that enemy?"
Yoshino shook his head. "Unfortunately, there is no DNA left by that person at the scene, so no comparative search can be conducted."
"No DNA... Is it because he was at the explosion's epicenter, so everything was destroyed?"
"No, my intuition is that this person likely didn't die." Yoshino looked at the female investigator. "You think so too, right, Suzuki?"
"Yes, Officer Yoshino."
The other investigators found it incredible. Could soone really survive at the epicenter of such a massive explosion?
Yoshino continued to ask, "Can you profile information about that person?"
Suzuki frowned in thought for a mont, then shook her head. "I've tried using my ability to profile that person several tis, but I only get a vague figure in my mind, with no effective characteristics."
"This is troubleso," Yoshino said with a grim expression. "We've had no results from city-wide patrols these past few days. If we can't find this person, we will face complete failure."
Everyone fell into silent speechlessness. A vast sea of people with no clues—even a master detective would be helpless in this situation.
"What about starting from social connections?" a veteran who was forrly a criminal investigator suggested. "Investigating who Wu Wang had scores with in the past might be a way. But there's only one week left; it's definitely not enough ti to do this."
"That's a good suggestion," Yoshino said upon hearing it, making a decision. "Alright, Suzuki, you and I will go to Bandzhen to personally apply to the Director for more ti. The rest of you start from Wu Wang's social connections and begin the investigation."
"Yes!"
After the eting dispersed, Yoshino kept Suzuki behind alone.
He rubbed his temples, his tone carrying so probing. "Suzuki, if it really cos to it, you might need to make so sacrifices."
Suzuki was taken aback upon hearing this. "Officer Yoshino, what do you an?"
"Don't misunderstand. I an, the spores from this set of rules... It's said they can enhance personal abilities, right? If we really can't find the person, to live up to our superiors' trust, we should be prepared."
"...You an, I should actively accept the spores, try to enhance my profiling ability to find Wu Wang's enemy?"
"Only as a last resort."
"...I understand."
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