Chapter 53: Settlement and Integration

"There is still another question. According to this document, you refer to all information related to 'Him' as harmful information. When acquiring this kind of information, one is still subjected to information pollution.

Anything harmful to it will still be distorted.

In other words, even if you are not being watched by 'Him,' simply prying into 'Him' secrets will still result in contamination by this information. Your encryption process might be able to resist the pollution, but what about the raw data you input?"

Professor He was stumped by the question. He fell silent for a moment before saying, "I don't know. We are missing this information, but based on our deductions, as long as we avoid calling upon words closely related to 'Him'—such as His name and His speech—the pollution inherent to such information might be progressive.

Remember, Academician Tang had already guessed something at the time, which is why he left the note. After discovering the problem, Elder Ge also conducted a slew of experiments. This proves that at that point, their logical thinking was at least normal, and I must input the correct information while I am still normal."

"You cannot guarantee that! Academician Tang's password might just be an anomaly, and Elder Ge's notes contained circles from start to finish rather than being tampered with by 'Him.' This is far too risky."

Professor He was momentarily at a loss for words, because the other party was right.

It was far too risky.

He had realized it too.

Perhaps Academician Tang's note was deliberately orchestrated by "Him"? Perhaps Elder Ge's records were the result of "Him" distorting Elder Ge's mind from the very beginning, compelling him to write them down? Or perhaps everything was merely a trap fabricated by "Him," designed one by one to hunt down and eliminate profound physicists?

The sample size was too small, and the enemy was entirely unprecedented. To put it politely, all information was analyzed from known premises; to put it bluntly, it was all guesswork.

Yet no matter what, it was still better than doing nothing at all.

The door to the conference room was knocked on once more.

This time, everyone looked toward the door again. There were no sounds of argument from outside.

"Reporting!"

The commanding officer was momentarily startled and said, "Come in."

The door swung open, and everyone was stunned, Professor He included.

For the person who entered was likewise pushing a wheelchair, while behind him, someone pushed an instrument on a small cart. Dense networks of tubes extended from the device, disappearing beneath his military uniform.

His attire did not make him look like a soldier full of spirit; on the contrary, judging by the wires snaking into his collar and the hem of his jacket, coupled with his pale complexion, he looked more like a terminally ill patient.

The shout he had just given seemed to have exhausted the very last of his strength, leaving him gasping for heavy breaths. Yet before he could recover, he forced himself to hold his breath and pushed his wheelchair right up before the commanding officer.

"You are... Captain Chu? How did you end up like this?"

"That is of no importance, Chief. I have other urgent matters to report."

The commanding officer ignored Captain Chu's words and looked at the soldier who had followed him in, pushing the equipment.

"Which unit are you from?"

"Reporting to the Chief, I am from the Field Hospital of the 122nd Regiment."

"Very well. Do you know what is wrong with him?"

"Reporting to the Chief..."

Captain Chu let out a violent fit of coughing, attempting to cut him off.

The field hospital soldier cast a look of helpless appeal at the commanding officer.

"Pay no attention to him. Continue."

"Reporting to the Chief, a massive amount of free radicals has mysteriously appeared within Captain Chu's body. These free radicals are destroying his organs; his lungs and liver are already beginning to fail."

At this, the commanding officer stared at Captain Chu in disbelief. "Was it 'Him'?"

Captain Chu nodded. "I have matters to report to you."

"...Speak."

"While waiting outside the door just now, I overheard your discussion. I have a way to solve the pollution problem!"

The commanding officer frowned. He had expected Captain Chu to explain his own physical condition, but immediately realized that the information Captain Chu was referring to was far more critical.

"You're saying you have a solution to the information pollution?"

"That's right!" Captain Chu answered eagerly. Stirred by excitement, he began breathing heavily; only through this fragmented, frequent breathing method could he alleviate the suffocating sensation caused by partial loss of lung function, which prevented him from getting enough oxygen.

"What is the method?"

"Xu Chen! Director Yang, Elder Ge—they all say Xu Chen is very special. He can withstand the scouring; his inspiration is higher! Let him team up with this professor."

The commanding officer looked at Captain Chu. Blood was seeping from his nasal passages, and his physical condition was far from optimistic.

"Captain Chu, I acknowledge that Xu Chen has certain special qualities, and he has made quite a few contributions to us. However, you must understand, he is still a college student."

"Then recruit him specially. Issue a special draft for him." Captain Chu breathed even more hurriedly. The field hospital soldier behind him hastily picked up a makeshift oxygen tube and had him inhale a few breaths of oxygen.

"We haven't confirmed yet whether he will definitely work... This is still too risky," said one of the leaders seated below.

At this, Captain Chu straightened his posture, gazing at him with sharp eyes.

"We cannot refrain from acting simply because of risks! Gentlemen, this is a war right now—a war against Him—and in war, risk is the one thing that is never in short supply!"

"That cannot convince us! We can manage the risks of war, but regarding the risks concerning 'Him,' we know absolutely nothing."

Captain Chu then looked at the commanding officer. "Do you know why I ended up like this?"

The commanding officer hesitated for a moment and shook his head.

"I came to know some knowledge that should not be known, and probed too deeply into 'Him'... Consequently, I caught 'His' attention. Knowledge is likewise polluting; the machinery Professor He mentioned is useful to me..."

"Yet! Yet!" Captain Chu's voice suddenly rose. "We are all mortals! If we wish to deal with 'Him,' we must acquire information about 'Him,' but 'His' information is toxic! Is this not a paradox?

'He' harbors nothing but malice toward us. Taihao has caused meteorological station personnel and medical staff to remain unconscious to this day, with some even dead, and Director Yang's attitude toward Taihao remains ambiguous! Only Xu Chen has provided us with a wealth of information.

The only special existence we currently know of, an existence that bears goodwill toward us, is Xu Chen!"

The leader seated below frowned. "Captain Chu, you've strayed from the topic. What we need to consider are the risks of implementing the plan against 'Him'."

"No!" Captain Chu snatched the oxygen from the field hospital soldier's hands and took a deep, fierce breath. "I propose that Xu Chen be allowed to join, and even lead, the plan targeting 'Him'! He can circumvent this risk!"

The commanding officer stepped forward, walked over, pressed his hand upon Captain Chu's shoulder, and soothed him, "Captain Chu, you said you learned some knowledge that you shouldn't have known... Is this it?"

The previous speech had exhausted the last vestiges of Captain Chu's strength. When the commanding officer touched his shoulder, the strength in his body seemed to be drained away entirely; his posture lost its uprightness and he slumped significantly.

"This knowledge... as high-ranking officials... you cannot be told. Only Xu Chen has the capability to endure the scouring... and will not be noticed by 'Him'... Only thus do we have a chance."

The commanding officer nodded and turned back. "Now, let us discuss and vote on Captain Chu's proposal to exceptionally promote Xu Chen, have him join the combat plan against 'Him,' and determine whether he can serve as the core leader of the initiative.

Begin."

The conference room instantly erupted into an uproar once again. This time, their discussion was far less polite.

The commanding officer nodded, turning his gaze back to Captain Chu. Observing the device behind Captain Chu, he found it as strangely pieced together as a makeshift temporary device, resembling a sample or a prototype.

"Captain Chu, what is this instrument behind you? Is it something that can clear the free radicals from your body?"

"...Yes."

"No!" the field hospital soldier retorted. "Reporting to the Chief! This apparatus is merely a device to monitor the concentration of free radicals inside Captain Chu's body; it has zero efficacy in clearing them."

"What!" the commanding officer was shocked. "Why aren't you seeking treatment?"

Captain Chu cast a helpless, reproachful glare at the field hospital soldier. "Such... massive quantities of free radicals cannot be... cured... According to medical experts, if one could cure... this affliction, the difficulty would be no less than... reverting to youth.

I have been noticed by... 'Him'. Before I die... we must acquire the data regarding 'His'... attacks against us. This data... is very useful..."

The commanding officer was left speechless. He watched Captain Chu, who was struggling to explain himself, pausing every few words, and finally gave a wave of his hand.

"Say no more. You—take him down for treatment afterward. Collecting data is indeed important, but it is no excuse to forgo treatment. Even if death is certain, it must be verified and locked down first."

"Understood!" the field hospital soldier answered loudly.

Captain Chu wanted to say more, but was stopped by the commanding officer.

"Rest assured, whatever you wish to accomplish, I will certainly give you a satisfactory resolution."

By this time, the discussion was nearing its conclusion, and the political commissar handed the motion they had just debated over to the commanding officer.

The commanding officer read it over and handed it to Captain Chu. "Take a look. The outcome you wanted."

Captain Chu laboriously picked up the paper and gazed at it.

[Approval granted for Xu Chen to join the combat plan against 'Him,' and logistical support for him shall be increased.]

[He shall not be granted an exceptionally high rank, but shall hold the highest possible authority, enjoying top-level information clearance and think-tank support.]