Chapter 42: The Response

“Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
Yang Tianyou shook his head.

“For example, the Taihao typhoon incident, what exactly Taihao is, and the crisis you mentioned?”

“I don’t know, I can’t say. I’ve told you everything I can.”

Captain Chu looked at Yang Tianyou. Though dissatisfied, he didn’t press further.

“What about Xu Chen? His intuition is sharp enough; why didn’t you tell him the whole story?”

“He’s far more valuable than you, more valuable than any of us. If I told him, he would attract its attention, but if he discovers it himself, it’s different.”

Captain Chu nodded thoughtfully, then regarded Yang Tianyou as a toad—only speaking when poked. But his time was running out. He had suspected as much before, and now it was certain.

Though he still had unanswered questions, an urgent matter awaited him.

The absurd request he had made to eliminate Xu Chen had been rejected, but it was on record, and the purpose was achieved. Next, he planned to submit another proposal concerning Xu Chen, hoping to offer him some assistance. If what Director Yang said was true—that time was short—then every bit of help he could give Xu Chen was precious.

Each effort might increase their chances against that mysterious being.

“I’m planning to leave. Do you have nothing more to say?”

Director Yang pondered briefly and then said, “You may go.”

Captain Chu sneered softly and shook his head. He was satisfied with the gains from this encounter but felt the cost was exorbitant—not just two lives lost, but now he too had drawn its attention.

What means would it employ? Captain Chu thought carefully but found no answer; it was too abstract to grasp.

He intended to visit the two deceased as a form of tribute.

As Captain Chu stepped toward the door, Director Yang suddenly spoke, “Wait.”

---

The Class A hazmat suit was extremely heavy, making it impossible to turn his head backward, so Captain Chu awkwardly spun around in place. “Hm? What is it? Something more to say?”

Yang Tianyou looked at Captain Chu, fell silent for a moment, then made a decision: “Taihao… that name holds extraordinary power. If you confront that presence and feel danger, speak that name. We will pay the price and help you resist its harm.”

Captain Chu remained silent, glanced once at Yang Tianyou, then turned and left.

He went to his room to discuss all the newly acquired information with his five-member think tank.

“If what Yang Tianyou said is true… all the information we have now is the result of a game between Taihao and It,” muttered the veteran detective, jotting notes and diagrams, employing his years of cultivated logic to reconstruct the event’s true nature for the group.

“It seeks to block any information harmful to It. That’s why Old Ge was dealt with. Perhaps originally It planned to eliminate Old Ge quietly, but after Xu Chen arrived, It had to resort to more aggressive measures.

It wants its name to be spread, but the name itself is dangerous. According to Xu Chen’s description, it might attract Its attention. We don’t yet know what happens when It is alerted…”

Captain Chu interrupted, “I already caught Its attention. We’ll see what It can do to me.”

The detective looked at him with concern. “Captain… that’s no small matter. Judging by the power this transcendent being displayed, we have no means to resist It at all.”

“That’s my problem. If it comes to death, so be it. I just want my death to count for something. Now, continue.”

The detective hesitated, then said, “If what you say is right, when Xu Chen spoke Its name, Taihao helped shield us from the worst consequences of knowing Its name. But the price was the lives of several patients who contracted Taihao’s disease… Our intuition was too weak to retain the information Xu Chen revealed.

Captain, maybe what Director Yang said is truly a method—if you say Taihao’s name, he might help you fend off Its attack…”

Captain Chu glanced at the detective. “But that’s a price I cannot pay! I have my own judgment. You just do your part. Now keep going.”

“Alright. Also, from my analysis, It might have a profound influence on modern instruments. Even recording devices containing information harmful to It can be mysteriously altered.”

Captain Chu thought for a moment. “For this exchange, we should use multiple media backups and various preservation methods. If what you say is true, that’s another point to be cautious about.”

The detective nodded. “Understood. Besides that, I’ve summarized everything I can.”

“Good. Now, I’m just waiting for Its next move.”

---

“We’re pressed for time. Give me the records.”

A white paper was handed to the imposing elder standing on the stage. The cover clearly read: “Draft Guidelines on Global Public Health Emergencies.”

In the magnificent, vast conference hall, thousands of solemn eyes were fixed on the elder. The World Health Organization’s meeting had just concluded, and all the data pointed to a massive crisis spreading worldwide. The nation was also feeling the immense pressure.

“Comrades, we have little time to waste. Just now, after the WHO meeting, the highest-level alert for a global public health emergency was issued.

It states that the worldwide fungal outbreak has constituted an ‘International Public Health Emergency of Concern.’ We must take this seriously.

This time, we will simplify procedures and respond swiftly to this global public health event, organizing our efforts accordingly.

Now, for the first proposal: guidance for domestic medical services and support for the pharmaceutical industry…”

In the vast hall, each proposal related to the public health event passed methodically. Although a maximum voting time was set, every proposal was approved as quickly as possible.

They understood the terror of a world-class public health emergency and knew the utmost importance of timely response.

The elder on the podium waited for the vote count, watching the crowd. Some read the documents in their hands, but more watched him.

“…The National Health Commission’s customs strengthening proposal regarding this public health event has passed by a narrow margin…”

The elder paused, flipped through the white paper, noting the extraordinary efficiency. Though these were emergency proposals and fewer than usual, it was clear the government machinery was operating at full throttle.

“Excellent, comrades. I won’t bore you with lengthy closing remarks. All guidance is written in the proposals. This time, united, we shall overcome the storms once again!”