The questioner walked up to the Alien Intelligent Entity and asked, "May I ask what your na is?"
This was a question that Louis had already asked before.
The Human Consortium had several important reasons for having the tester ask this question.
Reason one: to test whether it would still demand a price when the sa question was asked multiple tis.
Reason two: if it still required a price, to test whether the quantity of that price was controllable and quantifiable.
Previously, Louis had asked two questions in total: "na" and "origin." The price paid was ten human lives.
Now, only asking for a na, even if a second price had to be paid, it was expected that the consumption of food quantity could be controlled within single digits.
Reason three was the original intent of the Food Substitute Test.
By arranging concentric circles of food at varying distances, if the animals like cattle, sheep, and pigs in the first circle could serve as substitutes, that would be ideal. If they couldn't, the parasitized forms in the second circle and the death row inmates in the third circle could serve as backups.
As for the fourth circle, those were the soldiers from Xisiya responsible for maintaining order on-site. Naturally, they would not be affected.
After the questioner asked the question, the mass of black sludge imdiately changed.
It swiftly flowed past the questioner and surged forward!
At this mont, the first conclusion was already drawn: asking the sa question a second ti still required paying a food price.
The black sludge moved extrely fast, instantly passing by the cattle, sheep, pigs, and other animals in the first circle.
Given the dense arrangent of these animals, its large mass of a body should not have been able to bypass them without contact. Yet, it displayed a strange decomposition-aggregation characteristic.
Its body decomposed from one large mass into countless "black sludge droplets" in an instant, slipping through the narrow gaps between the animals, then rapidly aggregated back together, restoring its original form.
After aggregation was complete, several of the nearest parasitized forms were imdiately enveloped by it. Following a series of teeth-grating corrosion sounds, it softened again and slumped onto the ground.
A short, guttural sound ca from its mouth and was recorded by the high-precision recording equipnt the soldiers had prepared in advance.
"The experint is over. Return to the no-contact state."
Sigaochin, standing outside the fourth circle, spoke. His voice transmitted into the headphones worn by the questioner. The questioner imdiately closed his mouth and left without saying another word.
The multiple snipers in the distance stopped aiming.
Even though the questioner was carefully selected by the Human Consortium, it was better to be safe than sorry.
If the questioner acted on his own initiative or harbored malicious intent, wanting to ask an unauthorized question, he would be shot dead by the snipers the mont he opened his mouth.
The entire experint process and results were witnessed in real-ti via live streaming by the Human Consortium and the highest-level decision-makers from its mber nations' representative countries.
They got the results they wanted.
In the Suroma Empire, inside the Senate conference room.
The Senators watched the live stream and all turned their gaze to the King.
This Majesty who wielded the empire, holding a scepter, remained expressionless.
The elders spoke: "It's clearly a question that's been asked before, yet it still demands to be fed again. This alien monster is truly greedy."
"Although animals can't be used as substitutes, fortunately, it's not so picky that it won't even eat parasitized forms. That's so good news."
"It ate ten last ti, and four this ti. If humans and parasitized forms are considered equivalent, that ans its na is worth four lives, and its origin is worth six lives."
"A single na is worth four lives... One can imagine that to ask major questions, we must prepare enough food on-site in advance."
"For a question like 'how to identify parasitized forms,' how many portions of food should be prepared in advance? Dozens? Or hundreds?"
"To be safe, it's best to prepare over a thousand portions and also be ntally prepared for failure. What if it doesn't know, or the answer it gives is incomprehensible to humans? That would be troubleso."
"Can't we find a way to move it into Suroma territory? That Ice Field has harsh conditions and extrely poor transportation. Besides, even if Yelanka doesn't dare to cause trouble, keeping such an important being in soone else's territory is still unsettling."
"Your Majesty, what do you think?"
"That's not necessary." The King slowly spoke. "Let it stay on Xisiya's Ice Field."
"But..."
"Never mind whether it can be moved or not. Even if it were possible, Beixing wouldn't agree. At this ti, don't complicate matters further."
Upon hearing this, the Senators all nodded.
Both Beixing and Suroma could accept this Alien Intelligent Entity landing in Xisiya. Conversely, if it landed in one of the two countries, the other would certainly harbor misgivings.
"How is the Joint Force situation?" the King asked.
An elder responsible for related matters replied: "Originally, due to the announcent of the new rule, Joint Force operations were suspended. But now they have resud action. Currently, the main participating forces from the three nations have gathered at the Black Flag Country border."
"And the parasitized forms' response there?"
"It seems they intend to resist to the bitter end."
"Resist to the bitter end... Where does their confidence co from?"
The King rubbed his scepter, a flicker of doubt passing through his eyes.
Although the Black Flag Country had the world's largest population before the Doomsday Rules, its military strength wasn't even in the top twenty worldwide.
Now, its population is less than one-tenth of what it was. Even if they all beca parasitized forms, what gives them the right to contend with the Joint Force?
"Hmph, a bunch of foolish things," snorted the elder in charge of military affairs.
"Those parasitized forms are probably relying on the Black Flag Country being a mountainous inland country, trying to wear down the Joint Force by hiding in the forests. But they don't consider that as long as the Joint Force maintains air superiority and cuts off their supplies, they could starve them to death!"
"No. The previous combat objective was elimination, but now it has changed to capture. This increases the difficulty considerably, and the Joint Force's operational plans must be revised," the King said.
"Yes. I and the Joint Force commanders from Beixing and Xisiya are planning to hold a eting to discuss this issue."
"Mmm. Tell the intelligence departnt to closely monitor global developnts." The King said, "Perhaps these parasitized forms are brewing so secret plan."
"A secret plan? Can they hide it from us?"
"If parasitized forms have any advantage over humans, it's that they do not betray their own kind. Thousands of people with a single purpose, not a single traitor among them. That is terrifying."
The King paused, then said, "Send Adam to assist the Joint Force in their operations. His mission will be to personally capture the leader among the parasitized forms."
"Adam?" The Senators were taken aback. "But the 'Eden Project'..."
"The child has been born. His task as the 'father' is complete. The child's upbringing will be taken over by specialists."
...
After the rule regarding parasitized forms, several major countries closed their borders again, temporarily halting the acceptance of refugees from other nations.
If they were disaster refugees, they needed to et conditions to enter the country. The condition was simple: enter centralized accommodation facilities to live.
The purpose of several countries doing this was naturally to prevent parasitized forms from mixing in. Whether they intended to cause destruction and chaos or enter the country to lie low and wait for an opportunity to convert more people, they posed a significant threat.
Therefore, for Guan Tong and Uenoshi to enter Xisiya, they naturally would not apply through normal channels.
Actually, if he wanted to go through official channels, he could contact the Counterasures Research Office. Requesting this kind of assistance in the na of cooperation wouldn't be difficult.
But Guan Tong would not use this thod. He wasn't going to Xisiya for tourism; he was going to settle a score. He didn't plan to let too many people know about resolving this personal grudge.
The two prepared to enter Xisiya from its weakly defended western region. They first went to a small country bordering Xisiya in the west. Upon entering, they found it was already completely deserted.
"It seems that during the earthquake rule, this place wasn't far from one of the seismic sources."
Guan Tong looked at the long fissure in the earth beneath his feet. It stretched forward, almost endless.
Uenoshi observed the surrounding ruins. She didn't sense any signs of living creatures.
"Has this country completely perished?"
"Most likely."
The two walked for an hour or two without seeing any living people, only occasionally catching glimpses of so dried bones on the ground.
This feeling was hard to describe, and it gave Guan Tong a tangible understanding of the phrase "white bones exposed in the wilderness, not a cock's crow for a thousand miles."
Even though several past Doomsday Rules had also caused many casualties in Beixing, each ti the authorities acted swiftly, imdiately dispatching personnel for body collection and cremation. Coupled with the existence of collective shelters, death wasn't so blatantly displayed before everyone's eyes, on the outdoor streets.
But now, setting foot on the territory of this perished small country, he realized what imnse and direct destruction the Doomsday Rules could bring to a country that had lost control.
Under this oppressive atmosphere, neither of them said much, only quickening their pace.
By noon the next day, the two successfully entered Xisiya territory.
As a major power second only to Beixing and Suroma, order was still being maintained within Xisiya. It wasn't thrown into complete chaos by the parasitized forms.
However, the alcoholism problem here was severe. The Doomsday Rules seed to have exacerbated this issue. As soon as the two entered this border city, they could sll the strong scent of alcohol in the air.
Many Xisiyans were even lying drunk on the road, clutching bottles of hard liquor, completely ignoring passersby, as if they were already accustod to this sight.
Both Guan Tong and Uenoshi were visiting Xisiya for the first ti, essentially unfamiliar with the place.
In the past, when he went to unfamiliar places, he would just go first and deal with any problems as they arose.
This ti was different.
Guan Tong and Uenoshi found a bar. Soone was already waiting by the wall at the entrance—a Xisiyan youth with curly hair and reddish skin.
As soon as the youth saw the two, he imdiately stepped forward and said, "You two..."
Guan Tong spoke: "You're 'Black Star,' right?"
"Haha." The curly-haired youth laughed. "Looks like I guessed right. You are indeed my clients. Well, you arrived over ten minutes earlier than the agreed ti."
This ti, coming to Xisiya was different from his past trips to unfamiliar places. Guan Tong had used a secondary account to post a commission on the Ascendant Ho forum.
The person who accepted the commission had the nickna "Black Star," who appeared to be the curly-haired Xisiyan youth before them.
"You two, follow
inside. I've arranged everything."
Black Star pushed the door open and entered the bar. Guan Tong and Uenoshi exchanged a glance, then stepped inside after him.
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