Forty-Nine Doomsday Chapter 280: The First Stage of Parasitism

"So, the first stage of host addiction and spore parasitism has already appeared."

At the Countermeasures Research Office meeting, Gao Liangwei inquired of the analyst who had come 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 become extremely protective of their lives, refusing to stay in any dangerous environment 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 immediately after the rules were announced, completely accepting the spores' transformation of their bodies."

Someone 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 becomes 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 some forced cognitive correction experiments... but all have failed."

"However," the analyst's tone shifted, "among the experimental subjects, there are some 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 mental 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 troublesome," 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 troublesome is that even if we prohibit them from going out, they can still 'practice their cultivation arts' indoors."

Someone couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, who the hell came up with that 'Cosmic Divine Spore Art'? It's screwed over so many people!"

"What I'm more curious about is, something 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 experiments, some 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 experimental results show that multiple individuals who had never met 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 moment.

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 moment.

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 time is."

Yoshino switched the screen image, showing some 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 name and whispered among themselves.

"The name 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 intermediaries."

"Because both Sakura Prayer Country and Beixing are member states of the Human Consortium, Beixing agreed to help us run a comparison from their geic database and sent this person's information after querying the results."

"With a photo and name, the investigation became much smoother. We quickly learned from other channels that this person is a seller on the dark web, selling some explosion-related videos. Combining intelligence, it can be judged that he possesses the ability to detonate metal objects."

Upon hearing this, the investigators all looked shocked.

"Using metal 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 time, 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 someone 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 moment, then shook her head. "I've tried using my ability to profile that person several times, but I only get a vague figure in my mind, with no effective characteristics."

"This is troublesome," 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 formerly 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 time 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 time. The rest of you start from Wu Wang's social connections and begin the investigation."

"Yes!"

After the meeting dispersed, Yoshino kept Suzuki behind alone.

He rubbed his temples, his tone carrying some probing. "Suzuki, if it really comes to it, you might need to make some sacrifices."

Suzuki was taken aback upon hearing this. "Officer Yoshino, what do you mean?"

"Don't misunderstand. I mean, 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 mean, 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."