In the short time of less than a week since the fourteenth Doomsday Rule was announced, the number of people practicing the "Cosmic Divine Spore Art" had already become incalculable.
Even though various countries continuously issued warnings, and even Prohibitions, it was all in vain.
Many things can only be implemented if the general public is willing to cooperate. If the public does not cooperate, so-called suggestions and regulations cannot take effect.
Now, many people feel that practicing this divine art has various benefits for the body, especially for ordinary people, who see the spores as an opportunity to turn their fortunes around in this era.
Under these circumstances, the coercive power of the authorities was almost completely ineffective.
Faced with this situation, the Countermeasures Research Office had no choice but to convene an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures.
"Should we simply temporarily cut off the online supply?" someone proposed. "This whole practice craze spread from the inter, and many people arrange to gather through it. Should we start from this aspect?"
Someone else objected, "I'm afraid the effect won't be very good... There are many offline gathering places for practice now. You can see them just by taking a casual walk outside."
"Exactly. Right now, in squares, parks, and other places in various cities, many people are gathering to practice together. Looking at video footage, many people aren't just meditating anymore; they've also made homemade helmet antenna receivers to wear on their heads, claiming it amplifies the alien civilization information they receive."
"...I think these people have truly gone completely mad."
Zhang Minglu looked at Gao Liangwei with a worried expression, his face full of anxiety. "Director, although I don't want to admit it, it seems we have failed this time... We are completely helpless against the public's fanaticism."
In this situation, even using violent force would be useless.
Because many people now are simply not afraid of death, just like that popular post wrote, "mediocrity is more terrifying than death," and many people believe exactly that.
This way, it seems the authorities can do nothing but watch helplessly as a massive number of people become addicted to the spores and get deeply parasitized.
What the final form of the parasitized form will be like, no one knows now. It might take a few more stages, or perhaps it won't become apparent until after the rules end.
But regardless, the trouble such an enormous number of parasitized forms will ultimately cause for humanity is simply unimaginable.
Everyone in the meeting room fell silent, waiting for Gao Liangwei to make a decision.
Faced with this situation, Gao Liangwei pondered for a long time before finally speaking.
"I have a proposal. Listen to it. If you think it's feasible, we'll submit it to the Higher-ups today."
Everyone perked up their ears, listening intently.
"My proposal is for the authorities to designate specific practice sites. Have all those who are determined to practice gather and practice at these designated sites."
As soon as these words were spoken, the others looked puzzled.
The authorities not taking action to stop it was one thing, but actually helping them find places? Wasn't that adding fuel to the fire?
Only a few people vaguely guessed the true meaning behind Gao Liangwei's words, and a chill ran down their spines.
Gao Liangwei continued, "Those obsessed with practicing will most likely become completely addicted to the spores and ultimately become parasitized forms. We currently don't know what the parasitized forms will be like, or if they pose a threat to normal humans, so..."
After he spoke the next part, everyone in the meeting room felt a chill, as if the room temperature had dropped several degrees.
"So, these sites, while superficially called practice grounds, will actually be large-scale quarantine zones."
"That's right. My proposal is, since we cannot stop these people from practicing, we quarantine them in advance. Once they become parasitized forms, we observe them."
"If they turn into monsters harmful to normal humans, and if all attempts at various methods prove futile to save them... then, no matter how reluctant we are, for the sake of those still living, what must be done will be done."
Although Gao Liangwei didn't say it directly, the meaning in his words was crystal clear.
Establish quarantine zones, concentrate those obsessed with practicing inside them. If they eventually completely transform into irredeemable parasitized form monsters, just like the living dead back then... then the only option would be to use military force to thoroughly cleanse all quarantine zones.
For a moment, the meeting room was completely silent. Only someone with a military background like Gao Liangwei could come up with such a plan so quickly. The doctors and scholars from various other fields hadn't even considered this direction.
"I agree with the Director's proposal."
Zhang Minglu was the first to express his support.
"For the sake of humanity as a whole, it is necessary to prepare for the worst in advance."
"...I also agree."
"I'd like to add, this matter must be kept highly confidential! If it leaks, it could instantly intensify conflicts and trigger violent clashes."
"Then let's begin the vote."
...
After the vote concluded, over niy percent of the people agreed with Gao Liangwei's proposal. Among the remaining ten percent, some opposed it, and some abstained.
Thus, this proposal was quickly submitted. The response from the Higher-ups was faster than imagined.
Submitted that same day, the Higher-ups approved it that same day with the two words "Approved." They also decided that Gao Liangwei would be fully responsible for this "Quarantine Zone Plan," granting him the highest authority to mobilize various departments to cooperate.
After obtaining the authority, Gao Liangwei immediately notified the high-level personnel of various official departments. After communicating, coordinating, and explaining the requirements, the systems of each department immediately began operating at high speed.
First, location selection in each city began, requiring large spaces with a certain degree of containment.
Places like large Gymnasiums, factory areas, cluster office buildings, and even some parks could all be used.
Next was the mass rollout of publicity work. The goal was singular: to guide all those obsessed with practicing to the various designated quarantine zones.
This turned out to be much easier than imagined, because practitioners themselves tended to share experiences with each other. Upon learning that a place had a massive number of practitioners, they were all very willing to go there.
This way, the authorities could gather the most fanatical practitioners of the "Cosmic Divine Spore Art" in fixed areas.
After that came the preparation for sealing off the quarantine zones.
Some armed forces were secretly mobilized to the surrounding areas to stand by. At the critical moment, once the order was given, these forces could seal off the quarantine zones in the shortest possible time, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.
As for how to deal with the situation after the seal... it would depend on what the parasitized forms turned out to be like.
If they were still human, perhaps there was still a chance for salvation.
If they turned into some kind of monster, then the only option was cleanup.
The tightly coordinated operation rapidly commenced. Due to the high level of secrecy of this plan, most participants did not know the specific situation.
The people publicizing the practice sites genuinely believed those places were for people to practice.
The armed forces deployed nearby were also completely in the dark, only knowing they were stationed there. As for the specific purpose, they would only learn the mission when the order was given at some future moment.
And so, this Quarantine Zone Plan quietly unfolded in secrecy...
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