Chapter 52: Severing the Chain
by xennovel“I…”
Gecko was struck speechless by Lu Xin’s words, unable to utter a sound for a long moment.
He felt like something was wrong with that logic, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was…
After a while, he finally managed to squeeze out, “Brother, am I crazy, or do you sound kinda twisted?”
Lu Xin was momentarily speechless himself.
But just then, Tie Cui’s voice cut in urgently over the channel, interrupting Gecko. “Based on analysis of past cases, Mental Pollution Sources are formed from distorted biological mental force fields. Most retain their former survival and reproductive instincts. Therefore, intimidation, or rather deterrence, is viable to some extent, especially against Mental Monsters where the effect is more pronounced!”
“We have recorded instances of captured Mental Monsters exhibiting fear!”
“So, the method Mr. Lone Soldier just mentioned has a certain theoretical basis…”
…
?
Gecko’s expression turned strange. “Linda, have you switched sides? I feel like you…”
“Shut up!”
Tie Cui, as Linda, scolded him. She seemed to hesitate for a moment herself before adding, “However, this is often only theoretically feasible. Whether it’s a Pollution Source or a Mental Monster, they all possess some degree of distortion. Their reactions to fear vary. Some might go berserk due to fear, while others might paradoxically exhibit excitement beyond normal comprehension…”
“Also, based on your earlier report, if the Mental Entity simply dissipated and completely lost its influence over the other workers in the factory, it doesn’t sound like it was deterred and fled. It seems more like its logic chain was severed…”
Her voice paused slightly before she asked, “Mr. Lone Soldier, did you do anything else just now?”
Gecko thought about it and quickly added, “Right! I saw you saying something to her earlier too…”
“You be quiet for now!”
Tie Cui scolded Gecko again.
Switching back to Linda, she addressed Lu Xin, “Mr. Lone Soldier, you can tell me now, or you can write it in the report later…”
Faced with this polite and gentle inquiry, Lu Xin fell silent for a moment.
He realized these people weren’t easily fooled…
Actually, thinking back carefully now about what Mom did and said, he had some questions himself.
He recalled Mom’s words. She seemed to be talking to the little girl, but it also felt strangely off. For instance, she mentioned the little girl should be in school, and that as a father, one should take responsibility for their mistakes. She specifically pointed out that a real little girl wouldn’t genuinely support her father’s work like that, that her behavior was unreasonable…
Of course, after explaining all this, she did indeed proceed with the intimidation.
The moment that pair of scissors came down, the little girl panicked…
…
…
“I felt the little girl’s behavior was unreasonable!”
Lu Xin thought for a moment, then slowly replied, “If she was just a Secondary Pollution Source split off from the main Contamination Source Body, then her logic and will actually originated from the main source, Zheng Yuanxiong. That’s why she continued to influence those workers even after Zheng Yuanxiong was forcefully sedated, even making them frantically attack anyone trying to stop the work…”
“So, the main logic chain of this secondary pollution lies in Zheng Yuanxiong’s belief that his daughter should understand him. Because he failed to take care of his daughter, he developed extreme guilt and used his mental power to split off a new ‘daughter’. But subconsciously wanting to alleviate his own suffering, this Secondary Pollution Source’s behavior and will were entirely supportive of him.”
“This ‘daughter’ was just something Zheng Yuanxiong imagined, not a real existence…”
“So, by exposing this point…”
…
At this moment, Lu Xin felt he could explain everything clearly.
But he also had a feeling that he wasn’t really explaining, just relying on memory, figuring out what Mom had done.
“That severed the logic chain of Special Pollution Source No. 039…”
Tie Cui’s voice sounded in the channel, tinged with excitement, “Mr. Lone Soldier, you did very well!”
Gecko stood dumbfounded nearby. “That’s it? It’s done?”
Over the channel, Linda chuckled. “Given enough time and energy, I believe many people could analyze such a logic chain. But to do so perfectly under such dangerous and tense circumstances… it just shows Mr. Lone Soldier handled it flawlessly!”
“It was Mom who handled it perfectly…”
Lu Xin silently corrected her in his mind, a strange feeling surfacing again.
He could explain it all so articulately now because he had analyzed it from Mom’s actions and words.
But how had Mom so keenly perceived Zheng Yuanxiong’s psychology?
While they talked, Gecko stood aside frowning, looking at Lu Xin one moment, then listening intently to Linda’s voice on the channel the next, muttering under his breath, “It was clearly just scaring a little girl, yet they make it sound so reasonable…”
“Alright!”
Just then, Linda’s somewhat cheerful voice announced, “Pollution Source No. 039 confirmed cleaned up!”
“The remaining cleanup work will be handled by the Support Team!”
“Special Action Team members can withdraw and proceed to Qingzhuo Building for examination…”
“This channel will now close…”
…
Hearing this, Gecko hurriedly said, “What’s the rush, Linda? I still need something…”
Tie Cui’s voice paused. “What is it?”
Gecko said, “Could you help me write this mission report…?”
“No!”
Tie Cui’s voice paused again before delivering a heartless refusal.
“Why not?”
Tie Cui replied calmly and coolly, “My child is hungry!”
Gecko’s face instantly looked as sour as if he’d swallowed three flies.
…
…
While Lu Xin and Gecko withdrew from the pollution site towards Qingzhuo Building, back in the Main City’s Special Pollution Headquarters, Tie Cui had already compiled the cleanup report. She packaged it along with all the audio files and sent it to Chen Jing.
Chen Jing reviewed it once, then used an instrument to share it with several other professors.
“Isn’t this performance just too surprising?”
The pot-bellied bald professor chuckled. “He already understands how to use logic chains to clean up pollution sources so quickly?”
“This is great. We have a stronger case for his Guidance application now.”
The shiny-faced bald professor said, “If Old Shen raises any more objections, just shove this report in his face!”
Amid the excited voices, the bald professor with glasses, surnamed Chen, pushed his glasses up and reread the report twice. “Haven’t you noticed? Although his explanation has no flaws, and all the theory and actions align perfectly, listening to his slow explanation in the audio makes me lean towards the idea that he didn’t have the theory first and then put it into practice…”
“It’s exactly the opposite!”
…
The others looked at him quizzically.
Professor Chen smiled. “He did it first, and then found the theoretical support for it.”
“A typical case of consciousness outpacing thought.”
…
Listening to his words, the other professors also showed thoughtful expressions.
“Of course, this isn’t a bad thing…”
At this point, Professor Chen’s eyes revealed even greater excitement. “This kind of performance actually proves his potential is indeed greater than we imagined. If that’s the case, then why shouldn’t we Guide, Nurture… and study him?”
“Let’s go! After we get back, the first thing is to shove this report in Old Shen’s face!”