Long Yuehong had a very deep impression of August 7th.
It was not only the day the Initial City had its riot, but also the day he was severely injured and lost his right arm.
And now, Jiang Baimian was telling him that on this day, the "Heartless Disease" epidemic broke out within "Pangu Biology."
"Isn't that too coincidental?" Long Yuehong blurted out.
Jiang Baimian pondered for a moment and said:
"Maybe it's not a coincidence."
Long Yuehong opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Then, he noticed Shang Jianyao looking at him.
This guy will definitely say it's because of me… Long Yuehong felt he could already guess what Shang Jianyao would say next.
However, his guess didn't come true, because at this moment, Bai Chen entered the office, expressing confusion at the rather solemn atmosphere.
After Jiang Baimian explained it once, she directly gave her own thoughts:
"Didn't we previously guess that the riot in Initial City would likely be noticed by the Ruling Gods, or even directly interfered with?
"Could it be that, without us sensing any obvious abnormality, the latter did indeed happen?
"And the collision between the Ruling Gods produced certain fluctuations, causing small-scale 'Heartless Disease' outbreaks in different parts of the graylands."
Long Yuehong's first reaction to Jiang Baimian's bold hypothesis was to breathe a sigh of relief:
In any case, it's not because of me!
Bai Chen neither opposed nor agreed, thinking for a moment and saying:
"If that's really the case, then the company definitely won't be the only place to experience a 'Heartless Disease' outbreak on August 7th."
"Right." Jiang Baimian nodded slightly, "Next time we go out on a mission, we have to ask every place we pass through if anyone was infected with 'Heartless Disease' on August 7th."
Long Yuehong's heart stirred:
"According to this hypothesis, there should have been many 'Heartless Disease' patients appearing in Initial City on August 7th, but we haven't heard about it."
After that riot, Jiang Baimian and the others stayed in Initial City for quite a while longer to wait for Long Yuehong's body to recover to a certain extent.
As soon as Long Yuehong finished speaking, Shang Jianyao laughed:
"Have you forgotten about that unlucky gentleman?"
"Ah?" Long Yuehong was stunned, "Former Chief Executive and Commander of 'Initial City,' Bei Wulis?"
If he hadn't suddenly contracted "Heartless Disease," the development of that riot most likely wouldn't have been the way it was.
"His strength is also said to be very strong, maybe the 'Heartless Disease' virus generated by the fluctuations within that range all concentrated on him." Jiang Baimian hypothesized irresponsibly.
Without waiting for Long Yuehong and Bai Chen to respond, Shang Jianyao changed the topic without warning:
"Master Xanadu predicted that we would cause the riot in Initial City, but everything that happened later had little to do with us…"
Speaking of this, Shang Jianyao looked at Long Yuehong, revealing a smile:
"Maybe you spread the bad luck to Bei Wulis."
"I haven't even met him!" Long Yuehong retorted subconsciously.
Shang Jianyao praised with "surprise" and "fear":
"Getting more and more powerful!
"No need for contact to influence a person's luck!"
"Alright." Jiang Baimian stopped Shang Jianyao's performance, using her hand to hook the strands of hair that had fallen from her ear, and said considerately, "I suspect it's related to Tomato Scrambled Eggs."
When it came to topics involving Little Chong, she was more cautious than anything else, even though she knew there were no eavesdropping devices in the room, she still used code names.
"If we hadn't escaped from Sika Luo Temple in advance, we most likely wouldn't have encountered that special envoy's attack, and we wouldn't have gone looking for helpers. This led to Tomato Scrambled Eggs being scared away by him, and he probably left Initial City directly." Jiang Baimian further explained, "If he was still in Initial City during the citizens' gathering, there would have been many variables, and maybe it wouldn't have blown up at all."
"That makes sense." The more Long Yuehong thought about it, the more he agreed.
Of course, the premise was that Master Xanadu's prediction hadn't deviated too much, and the "Old Task Force" had indeed triggered the riot in Initial City in some sense.
Shang Jianyao then revealed a look of longing:
"I wonder where he is now."
Bai Chen carefully scrutinized the logic of the matter once, and said with emotion:
"Master Xanadu's prediction was actually confirmed in such a tortuous way…"
"That's what predictions are." Jiang Baimian chuckled.
She then stood up:
"Let's go exercise, these questions can be verified later.
"Our task now is to rest and recover, wait for the above to finish the review, issue the rewards, and then each of us can make our own applications."
After a pause, Jiang Baimian said with a look of longing:
"If our guess about the source of this 'Heartless Disease' epidemic is correct, then what's more important afterwards is not to go find those places where people were infected with 'Heartless Disease' on August 7th, but to list the settlements where no one was infected, and extract the similarities between them."
Her tone was filled with strong hope and anticipation.
At this moment, Long Yuehong inexplicably felt that the team leader's face seemed to be glowing, and Shang Jianyao beside him was also full of eager anticipation.
…………
As the day ended, Jiang Baimian returned home.
"Dad, so early?" She was a little surprised to find her father, Jiang Wenfeng, already sitting in the living room.
You must know that she hadn't eaten in the small canteen today, planning to come back and make something for herself, and the "Old Task Force" was in a semi-vacation state during this period, and getting off work was very casual, often earlier than usual.
Jiang Wenfeng said unhappily:
"Isn't it all for your sake!"
He then sighed:
"The bio-cochlear surgery and awakening experiment have both been arranged for you, and you can schedule a specific time after the routine review is over."
Jiang Baimian glanced at her father and deliberately asked timidly:
"What if I'm scared and back out?"
Jiang Wenfeng glared:
"You can pretend the awakening experiment never happened, but I'll knock you unconscious and send you over for the bio-cochlear surgery!"
"What a cruel heart…" Jiang Baimian drew out her tone.
At this time, she certainly wouldn't say something like Shang Jianyao's "I'll give you a left hand," which would spoil the mood.
Taking advantage of this topic, Jiang Baimian asked curiously:
"Dad, how many awakened people in our company have already entered the 'New World'?"
Jiang Wenfeng frowned:
"This isn't your level to know."
After saying that, he slowly exhaled:
"Actually, I'm not too sure either, the security level for this kind of thing is m3."
In other words, only members of the board of directors know.
Jiang Baimian muttered thoughtfully:
"There are a total of five members of the board of directors…"
Jiang Wenfeng didn't respond.
…………
495th floor, C area, inside the activity center.
Shang Jianyao, Long Yuehong, Meng Xia, and Zhang Lei sat in a corner, feeling the liveliness around them while chatting about various topics.
"We've been back for several days, why hasn't Yang Zhenyuan shown up…" Long Yuehong brought up another friend of his.
Meng Xia scoffed:
"Probably busy taking care of the child."
Long Yuehong suddenly understood, and slapped his forehead with his right hand:
"I forgot about that."
In the sound of the thud, his brow furrowed slightly, but he pretended nothing had happened.
Meng Xia looked at him, then at Shang Jianyao:
"Besides, your ranks have risen too quickly, it makes us feel inferior as classmates!"
"Pangu Biology" wasn't small, but it wasn't big either, and the news that Long Yuehong and Shang Jianyao were already d5 had spread throughout the entire 495th floor.
"You can also apply to be transferred to the front-line teams of the Security Department." Shang Jianyao seriously gave his advice.
Meng Xia rolled her eyes:
"We'll pass, we'll just wait for a classmate to become, no, two members of management, when two people attain enlightenment, all their friends and family will rise to heaven."
While chatting, Shang Jianyao suddenly looked at Meng Xia's husband, Zhang Lei:
"Have you heard of the 'Natural Sect'?"
This was an evil cult that had spread within the company for a while, influencing some people.
Zhang Lei recalled and said:
"Is it that sect that likes to run around naked everywhere?"
"Yes." Long Yuehong helped confirm.
"There's such a sect?" Meng Xia looked surprised.
Zhang Lei nodded:
"Before joining the company, I encountered them several times near the 'White Knights'."
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Xia suddenly interjected:
"Are they good-looking?"
"Some are old, some are subhumans." Zhang Lei said casually.
Shang Jianyao asked with great interest:
"Then do you know which Ruling God they worship?"
Zhang Lei thought for a while and said:
"Seems to be the 'Overseer' of May."
Shang Jianyao suddenly "understood":
"Nude running is also a form of performance art!"
After chatting for a while, the pregnant woman was "forcibly" taken away, and Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong followed and left the activity center, each returning to their own home.
B area, inside room 196.
Shang Jianyao leaned back on the bed, opening his eyes in the silent darkness.
Near the window, the light from the street lamp outside illuminated an area, occasionally stirred by the shadows of passing pedestrians.
A few minutes later, the broadcast had a new movement, and that slightly childish voice rang out:
"Hello everyone, I'm the hourly news anchor, Hou Yi, it's now 8 o'clock in the evening…
"Today, Director of the Board, Vice President Ji Ze convened the 'Safe Production Month' meeting…"