by <unknown>
Little X's voice was a little helpless. "Originally, 'Adam' had used encryption when predicting the Herrank Warehouse event. It stands to reason that the Earth Federation cannot get an effective answer. It's a pity that the meme is unreasonable. After the video was generated, not only did I receive this video but the Earth Federation also got a copy. I originally thought that these encryption methods couldn't be cracked by the Earth Federation, but they succeeded in decoding it. All the encryption methods became ineffective measures in the face of this meme!"
"In other words, at this time, everyone in the Quantum Deity Laboratory of the Earth Federation had seen that video?"
Chen Chen's face turned even darker. At this moment, Zhao Shanhe's face flashed in his mind and then Zhao Shanhe's face changed and became the image of Professor Wang Xi. Chen Chen could not help but laugh in anger. "Great plan, what a truly great plan…"
"What do you mean…"
Little X sounded astonished.
"All this would be impossible if no one was planning it."
Chen Chen's expression became even colder and harsher. "The other party would destroy the entire human civilization indiscriminately to get the USB flash drive or to kill me. Isn't this a great plan? What's more terrifying is that the other party is probably not on Earth or even the same space-time and timeline where I'm in. Rather, they're in another place that I can't reach or discover…"
"Then what shall we do now?"
X could not help asking.
"Call off most of the Black Knights who are chasing Keith."
Chen Chen said without thinking, "With Keith, just let everything happen as it will. These Black Knights are to go to the Herrank area, find out everything that's going on, and see what the h*ll is killing people!"
As he spoke, Chen Chen hesitated a bit and finally said, "By the way, contact the President of Northern America and the Mayor of Los Angeles and ask them to immediately seal off the Herrank area to prevent the spread of the meme!"
"But they won't listen to us…"
Little X hesitated.
"Then tell them what a meme is!"
Chen Chen said coldly, "Although the time isn't quite right, I can no longer care about that. We're just laying our cards on the table. We don't necessarily need to be afraid of Northern America now.
"X, I'm relying on you here. You've never let me down in the past and the present as well. I hope it will be so in the future!"
"Yes!"
Little X immediately perked up when she heard this and her voice was loud and clear. "I understand, Sir Godfather, leave it to me!"
"Very good!"
Chen Chen smiled in relief and suddenly turned his head to look north. At this moment, the night breeze suddenly brushed by, causing Chen Chen to slightly narrow his eyes. There seemed to be an undercurrent churning in his gaze. "As for the Federation's Quantum Deity Laboratory, I'll take care of it."
With that said, Chen Chen walked straight to the edge of the building but when he reached the edge, he did not stop and walked into thin air. However, the strange thing was that although there was a 100-meter-high void below his feet, he seemed to be walking on solid ground every step of the way!
At the same time, Chen Chen's body was leaning forward slightly and the Field energy in his mind exploded like a spark plug. In the next second, Chen Chen's body suddenly produced an extreme thrust, causing Chen Chen to race forward with unbelievable acceleration!
"Boom!"
A white mist formed behind Chen Chen but at this time, he had already appeared hundreds of meters away. After that, in another blink of an eye, Chen Chen disappeared completely!
After Chen Chen's figure had vanished, the panes of glass in the Osmond building under his feet shattered instantaneously. In a flash, half of the building's glass had exploded and the fragments scattered all over the place!
At this point, Chen Chen had flown away at an acceleration that exceeded human limits. This was no longer just thanks to the Field energy. Even Andrew in Chronicle would not dare to do this.
Andrew might have a stronger Field than Chen Chen's, but his body was still that of an ordinary mortal.
Many people would think that one's body would become stronger after being irradiated by the crystalline. The source of this rumor was a scene in the movie: Andrew had stabbed a fork into his cousin's hand when he was playing tricks on his cousin, but his cousin's hand was fine, yet the fork was bent, so those uninformed would think that their bodies became even tougher after being irradiated by the crystalline.
Nevertheless, this was a misunderstanding because at that point of the story, Andrew was testing out his Field. He later explained that the reason the fork would bend and his cousin's hand remained fine was because he used his Field to shield his cousin's hand. The reason he did this was just to show that one could have a higher degree of control over one's Field and it had nothing to do with physical durability.
Chen Chen was different. At this time, Chen Chen was like a mixture of Alice and Andrew. He had both Alice's physical fitness strengthened by the T-virus and Andrew's Field power, so only he could accelerate to supersonic speed in half a second without worrying about his body being unable to bear the strain.
In the aviation field, there was a technical term called "overload" and the unit was represented by "G".
It could also be called the gravitational acceleration experienced by an object on the surface of the earth, which could be expressed as: when standing on the ground and remaining motionless relative to the ground, the gravitational acceleration experienced by a person was 1G and what one would feel was one's body weight.
However, during flight, the aircraft would often accelerate and the pilot would likewise undergo acceleration at the same time, so an acceleration would be generated. The greater the acceleration, the greater the acceleration overload. For example, if the pilot had attained an overload unit of 2G during flight, this was equivalent to the pilot's weight doubling out of thin air.
Generally speaking, ordinary people could withstand an overload of 2-3G and those fighter pilots who were carefully selected for their physical fitness as well as having undergone professional training, could withstand overloads far beyond ordinary people, even reaching 5-7G. Some of the better ones could even withstand a 9G overload.
As for Chen Chen, accelerating from a standstill to the speed of sound, he had suffered several times the overload of a pilot and more than a hundred times that of an ordinary person. This would be impossible for Andrew in the movie. Even if he tried that, he would die of cerebral hemorrhage a few seconds later.
Chapter 471: Annihilation |
"It's out!"
When they cracked the encryption code of "Adam", those in the technical department could not help but cheer. The group of representatives from all continents, the "shield bearers", gathered around the computer at once, waiting for the release of new information from "Adam".
"What's the matter, isn't it encrypted information? Why was the technical department able to crack it?"
"Who knows, I heard that the technical department didn't spend any effort at all, but this matter has something to do with the super-intelligent Adam. Maybe there's some deep meaning behind all this."
"This computer is amazing…"
Many "shield bearers" gathered in the conference room and continued to talk anxiously and excitedly, until the chairman of the Quantum Deity Conference spoke and everyone quieted down.
"I think you all know the reason for this emergency meeting."
This was an old man from Europe. He only said excitedly, "I won't waste your time. Now, as for the video information cracked by the technical department, please take a look…"
Following the old man's words, the screen in front of everyone suddenly turned on and a video of only ten seconds was played in front of everyone.
However, to everyone's disappointment, the image in the video was not some big secret but a statue of a woman with her back facing everyone
, her head down, and her hands raised to cover her eyes.
The lines on the statue were smooth and the details were extremely delicate as if they were carefully crafted. What was more conspicuous was the pair of soft wings growing out the back of the statue.
Anyone who looked at it could understand at a glance that this statue was none other than an angel.
This video was only ten seconds long. It had ended before everyone could react. After watching this video, everyone glanced around at each other, feeling a great sense of disappointment.
What was this, a prank by "Adam"?
"That's it?"
One of the "shield bearers" spread his hands and looked at the chairman of the Quantum Deity Conference. "Are you sure that the technical department didn't switch out the video?"
"The technical department is loyal. What you suggest is impossible."
The old man shook his head. "Perhaps 'Adam' wants to tell us a secret through this video."
"I guess so…"
Shortly after, the meeting room became noisy again.
However, this group of people did not notice that, when they turned away and started arguing loudly, on the frozen screen, the statue also turned its head slowly…
…
At the same moment, in the Los Angeles City Hall, Mayor Parsons was rubbing his temples furiously. A thick stack of files was in front of him.
A few minutes ago, the chief of the police department in charge of Los Angeles public security had been given a thorough dressing down and he ran away from the city hall and fled Parsons's angry roar.
"They are all pigs who are good for nothing. Not a single one is useful at this critical moment!"
At the thought of the horrible murders that had happened, Parsons was so enraged that he swept the reports off of the table, cursing in a low voice.
"Mr. Mayor, there's probably a vicious murderer hidden in the Herrank District."
The aide on his side reminded in a low voice. "What we should do now is to seal off the warehouse area of Herrank, get all the workers out, and conduct strict interrogation of everyone at the same time because there's a high probability that the murderer is also still hidden in the warehouse area."
"Would they be so stupid?"
Parsons looked at his aide with an icy face.
"It's not like that, Mr. Mayor."
The aide did not panic at all, but said solemnly, "Many people died at the hands of the murderer. This is beyond the scope of a vendetta. Therefore, I suspect that these killings are random killings, which means that the other side is taking pleasure in killing people. This kind of person's mind has long been distorted and cannot be judged with common sense."
Hearing this, Parsons started to think. What the aide said made sense.
"Of course, I'm just speculating. Anyway, we can just try this. We can also send the police to do a sweep of the Herrank Warehouse District. Even if we can't catch our target, it'd be good if we can stop the murderer's actions."
The aide continued to persuade.
Hearing the words, Parsons finally nodded. "Then we'll do as you say. We'll seal off the Herrank Warehouse District and dispatch…"
Before he finished speaking, the computer on Parsons' desk chimed and turned on by itself.
The two heard the sound and looked over at the same time. After seeing the computer turned on by itself, Parsons frowned. He stretched out his hand as if about to turn off the computer again but in the next second, a little girl's crisp voice unexpectedly came out from the computer —
"Sir Parsons, I don't recommend you do that."
In the computer, the girl said in precise English, "If I were you, I'd directly close off the Herrank Warehouse District and wait for orders from higher authorities, instead of sending police to the Herrank Warehouse District to their deaths."
"Who's there!"
Hearing that the computer started to speak, both of them looked stunned. The aide exclaimed, "It's a hacker, who is eavesdropping on our conversation!"
With that, the aide was ready to notify the guards outside but Parsons hesitated and finally stopped him. "Listen to what she has to say."
Hearing Parsons' order, the staff glanced at the computer with some anxiety.
The computer at this time no longer had its usual Windows interface. Instead, there was a pure black screen and the screen had a red logo design, which contained specifically three lowercase "i"s.
The three "i" letters were laid out in a circle and there were two arcs between each pair, forming a radial ring with a structure that was like the sign of nuclear radiation.
Below the logo, there was a line of letters:
Infohazard.
This meant "information hazard".
"Sir Parsons, I don't recommend that you send the police to the Herrank District."
At this time, the little girl's voice continued to persuade. "Because it wouldn't help and it may cause more intense memetic infections."
Hearing this, Parsons frowned. He waved his hand slightly and the aide seemed to understand this gesture immediately, hurriedly backing out as if he was about to get someone else.
"Memetic infection, what is that?"
Parsons' voice continued to remain cool and aloof, without mentioning what he had just done.
"Memes belong to a subject that hasn't yet been discovered by humans."
The little girl's voice whispered, "I believe you should know that the essence of living things is continuation and continuation is the fundamental purpose of life. The reason life can go on is because of the continuation of genes, which undergo inheritance, mutation, and so on. They support the basic structure of life and store all the information about the race, blood type, gestation, growth, and apoptosis of life.
"At the same time, in addition to heredity, genes also have the characteristics of mutation and selection. Otherwise, our current biological world wouldn't be this ever-changing. But did you know that in addition to genes, there's something else in the world that has the three characteristics of transmission, selection, and mutation?"
"What is it?"
Hearing the question from the voice on the computer, Parsons' expression flickered and he asked calmly.
"It's a meme."
The little girl continued. "A meme is like a special kind of information that is spread and mutated through human cognition. It can transform human cognition of things, change the structure of matter, and even change the rules of reality. A single malicious meme and even the entire Earth Federation will be destroyed because of it. What is happening now in the Herrank Warehouse District is a serious memetic effect."
Hearing this, Parsons' expression shifted and he cracked a disdainful smile. "Is this an 'information hazard' then? So, what should we do?"
"My suggestion is to lock down the Herrank Warehouse District and at the same time, isolate all those who have entered the area to prevent the spread of the meme."
As she spoke, the little girl suddenly changed her tone. "But it seems that you don't believe what I said, otherwise you wouldn't send your aide to mobilize the Los Angeles network reconnaissance team to track down my IP."
Parsons' expression changed. "So, you think I'd believe a hacker who only deals in half-truths and wouldn't even show themselves?"
"You can only follow my advice."
The little girl's voice continued to say without emotion, "Otherwise, all of you will die."
"Would we be killed by the so-called meme you mentioned?"
Parsons turned cold, not susceptible to the threats from the computer.
"No, but because I've sent the Black Knights to install fifty plastic bombs in the city hall."
The voice continued to say without any sentiment, "If you don't want to listen to me, then the entire city hall will collapse into ruins in an instant. I'm not kidding you."
"You!"
After hearing these words, Parsons' expression changed. He was about to erupt in fury but right then, the phone on
his desk rang without warning.
Parsons turned to the sound and saw that the caller information on the phone turned out to be the number of the President's office in the White House.
When Parsons picked it up and heard the order he was given, his face turned even gloomier because the White House only sent him one order:
Seal off the Herrank Warehouse District!
…
When Little X contacted the Northern American officials, Chen Chen was crossing multiple regions in Northern America at an absurd speed. In less than an hour, he had traversed 1,500 kilometers and arrived at the famous Yellowstone Park.
Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains on all sides, this was known as the "spine" of Northern America. It stretched from north to south for more than 4,800 kilometers. By this time, even Chen Chen's forehead was slightly sweaty.
Looking for a building in such a vast area of mountains was like finding a needle in a haystack. Moreover, it was still dark. If Chen Chen was asked to search for it by himself, it would likely take him several months to find the headquarters of the Earth Federation Quantum Deity Laboratory.
Nonetheless, it was a good thing he had Little X's help in all this. In addition, day and night had little effect on Chen Chen's vision. Soon, Chen Chen arrived in the unnamed forest where the laboratory was located.
After arriving, Chen Chen began to lower his flight altitude. After all, as the top secret of the entire Earth Federation, this place was heavily guarded. If he flew too high, it was easy for him to be detected by radar.
After lowering his altitude, Chen Chen broke out from the supersonic state and flew at a low speed for ten minutes. After flying over several checkpoints and a military base, he finally found the goal of his trip — Quantum Deity Laboratory that could shield all radiation.
The Quantum Deity Laboratory was a square structure as a whole, towering in the endless swathe of forest, but it was very inconspicuous because of the camouflage applied to its surface. It was only thanks to Chen Chen's eyesight that it could still be easily seen.
When Chen Chen approached the laboratory, his communication device also began to receive strong interference. As he flew closer and closer, the interference continued to intensify and he was finally completely disconnected from Little X.
