Chapter 197: The Best Solution
Chapter 197: The Best Solution
Silence briefly filled the conference room after everyone had heard Professor Bai’s words.
Only four people were present: Professor Bai, Minister Shen, Chen Jing, and Mr. Su. After hearing Professor Bai’s narrative, their reactions varied. Chen Jing appeared to have some of her questions answered, yet almost immediately, more confusion surfaced in her mind.
However, having considered certain matters, she didn’t voice her new questions right away.
After a moment of silence, Minister Shen raised his head, his expression stern as he looked at Professor Bai:
“This is pure speculation.”
“How can you convince anyone with such baseless conjecture?”
“…”
Minister Shen’s words were already very severe, causing Chen Jing and Mr. Su’s expressions to shift visibly.
Even Mr. Su gently tapped the documents in his hands, speaking slowly: “Aside from what we analyzed earlier, there are actually more things we don’t understand. For instance, what exactly happened to the Dreamweaver who infiltrated Lone Soldier’s Dream Realm to perform the initial psychological evaluation? Furthermore, it seems Old Shen also had a few subordinates who… encountered something…” he paused slightly, “… rather unpleasant, while observing Lone Soldier?”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s eyes turned to Minister Shen.
This concerned the City Defense Department. While everyone knew about it, it was rarely mentioned directly in Minister Shen’s presence.
“When the psychic magnitude gap is too vast, peering into an Ability User whose mental strength far exceeds your own is no different from gazing into the Abyss. In such cases, any unforeseen outcome is possible,” Professor Bai explained calmly. “Moreover, Lone Soldier had already warned us during the handling of the Psionic Bomb beneath the Southern Wall: do not observe, do not record. So, it was actually… we who violated the rules then. You can’t blame him.”
Professor Bai paused briefly before adding:
“Furthermore, my speculation is merely presented to help you better understand. Factually speaking, what I intend to convince you with is the data.”
As he spoke, he sifted through his documents:
“Currently, Lone Soldier has successfully resolved two Special Contamination Incidents in a short period, both garnering favorable evaluations.”
“Meaning, even without including the retrieval of the painting named ‘The Crimson Moon’s Gaze,’ he has already met the standards of a Tier-Three Special Talent. And according to our regulations, he is now eligible to apply for advancement to the Second Stage.”
“…”
Minister Shen’s expression darkened slightly, his voice low and grave: “For an Ability User to advance to the Second Stage, meeting the capability standards isn’t the only requirement! Another crucial condition is that his inherent Risk of Loss of Control must also be maintained within acceptable limits!”
Professor Bai nodded. “Exactly what I wanted to discuss with you. Analysis of the existing data indicates he already meets this criteria.”
Minister Shen glanced at the “65%” written on the board, his brow furrowed tightly: “Impossible!”
He spoke while flipping rapidly through his documents, searching for flaws in the seemingly absurd report.
“Facts and data do not lie.”
Professor Bai looked at him calmly. “You must acknowledge one fact. While during the initial phase, we all deemed his risk high, he did not lose control while handling subsequent Special Contamination Incidents. He did not lose control facing the Mental Contamination Bomb crafted by the Church of Technology. He did not lose control while pursuing the Knights Order Outside the City, nor even after entering Happy Town…”
“He still did not lose control!”
“The triggers for Loss of Control often stem from instability caused by an increase in Psychic Magnitude, self-destruction due to overexertion of abilities, or abnormal inducements and intense emotional impacts, leading to various mutations…”
“From this perspective, Lone Soldier has almost withstood tests from every conceivable angle.”
“The only challenge he hasn’t faced yet… is the impact of intense Emotion.”
“…”
Hearing this, Minister Shen immediately interrupted: “But emotional impact is one of the most common causes of Loss of Control!”
“Indeed!”
Professor Bai said with a slight smile. “However, he possesses another excellent habit: he strictly adheres to rules.”
He finished speaking, then looked towards Chen Jing and Mr. Su with a smile. “A person who follows rules easily keeps their emotions within bounds. Things happening within the rules, they willingly accept. When rules are broken, they can justifiably fight back, transforming a potentially overwhelming emotional surge into a simple act of venting…”
“So…”
Professor Bai concluded with a smile: “What an excellent candidate he is. I believe he is very well-suited to enter the Second Stage.”
The atmosphere in the conference room instantly grew even more tense and subtle.
Minister Shen, Chen Jing, and Mr. Su all felt they understood every word Professor Bai said, even agreeing it seemed reasonable. Yet, when he delivered this seemingly logical conclusion, all three were momentarily stunned…
…But this was Lone Soldier they were talking about!
…This was the Lone Soldier who alone had neutralized a Mental Contamination Bomb!
…This was the Lone Soldier who dared go Outside the City pursuing a Knights Order with three Ability Users, taking just one liability along!
…This was the Lone Soldier who leisurely wandered around Happy Town and then strolled out again like it was nothing!
…
…
“So,” Professor Bai asked pleasantly after stating his views, looking around. “What are your opinions?”
“I… honestly don’t have absolute certainty either…” surprisingly, Chen Jing spoke first this time. After a pause, she added, “But I trust the facts and the data!”
Mr. Su pondered for a moment, then offered a candid smile: “Honestly, my understanding of Ability Users doesn’t run as deep as yours. Some of what you discuss sounds rather complex to me. However, I have always remembered another matter…”
“The principle we established when setting up the Special Contaminant Cleanup Division was always to cooperate with Ability Users, not to oppose them!”
As he spoke, he smiled and added, “I believe this principle can guide many of our decisions.”
In the conference room, the eyes of three people turned toward Minister Shen.
Minister Shen’s face was dark. After a moment, he said, “I also agree with the principle Mr. Su mentioned. That’s why I haven’t forced all Ability Users to enlist or treated them with the strict discipline reserved for soldiers. I’ve even agreed to let them keep some secrets and enjoy certain privileges, provided they pose no threat. But one thing we all understand…”
He paused briefly before continuing, “Ability Users are far too terrifying.”
His voice grew slightly heavier. “Have you not yet read the report on Happy Town?”
“…And of course, it was him who brought that information back in the first place!”
“The fact that an Ability User—or a Source of Contamination—has reshaped an entire small town into a structure resembling a honeycomb ant colony… I don’t know what you make of it, but for me, it evokes fear. Or perhaps… despair!”
“…”
For someone of his temperament, uttering these words seemed particularly taxing.
Yet he spoke them anyway, fixing his intense gaze on Professor Bai. “So, are you truly certain you know what you’re doing?”
….
….
Professor Bai met his gaze squarely and nodded calmly. “I’ve seen the Happy Town report too. While it’s certainly astonishing, to be honest, I wasn’t entirely surprised. Back when the Prodigy Researcher at the Lunar Eclipse Research Institute, driven to despair by his own work, jumped from the hundred-story tower… do you recall what he said?”
Hearing this, Chen Jing jerked her head up sharply: “Those three curses?”
“They weren’t curses. More like warnings… or perhaps prophecies!”
Professor Bai stated slowly. “The first was that with the emergence of Mental Mutation, the social structure and order we rely on for survival would likely face unprecedented disruption. Humanity could enter an entirely different form of existence.”
In the conference room, listening to Professor Bai’s calm, almost detached words, a subtle heaviness settled in their hearts.
“And the second one…”
Professor Bai began slowly, his eyes sweeping over the others.
At this point, Mr. Su took up the thread, answering softly, “Prepare for the arrival of gods.”
A palpable, suffocating pressure seemed to fill the conference room, causing a discomfort deep in their hearts.
Minister Shen clenched his jaw slightly, the muscles in his face tensing.
….
….
“Hmph, no need to revisit the last words of such a maniac…”
Mr. Su chuckled softly. “But we must admit, Old Shen’s concern is valid…”
“This matter requires the utmost caution…”
“…”
“Regarding Old Shen’s worries, I actually came prepared.”
Professor Bai seemed to read his thoughts and spoke preemptively. “I have two points for you. Not just for you, but for the other gentlemen as well…” He walked over to stand before Minister Shen. Meeting the Minister’s slightly perplexed gaze, he asked quietly, “Are you aware that the Maritime Nation is currently in deep negotiations with the Deepwell Extraction Company?”
Minister Shen frowned slightly but nodded. “My people have obtained that intelligence and briefed me on it.”
Professor Bai nodded. “Do you know they’ve been discussing cultivation fluids?”
Minister Shen froze for a brief instant before his frown deepened.
“The second point I want to make is this…”
Professor Bai continued, his voice soft. “Do you honestly believe ‘Lone Soldier’ requires any enhancement to his current Psychic Magnitude?”
Minister Shen looked momentarily confused. As he pondered the implication, his expression abruptly shifted dramatically.
Meeting his stunned gaze, Professor Bai offered a faint smile. That smile, however, carried an uncharacteristic trace of weariness. “The focus of the Second Stage lies in strengthening and stabilizing Psychic Energy. He,” Professor Bai emphasized, “has no need for strengthening.”
“So, our task has always been… to make him more stable.”
“…”
A profound silence fell over the conference room. Everyone processed the weight of his words.
Professor Bai gently placed the documents on the experiment bench, turned, and folded his arms. “I’ve said what I needed to say.”
Minister Shen grit his teeth, suddenly raising his head to look at him again.
“It seems you already knew how to convince us before you called us here.”
After a slight pause, he continued, “I accept the proposal you made earlier. So, if he genuinely meets all the necessary criteria, I will not use my authority to reject his application for the Second Stage. However,” Minister Shen’s voice hardened, “I have one question for you.”
Both Chen Jing and Mr. Su looked at him now with heightened curiosity.
The muscles in Minister Shen’s face tightened as he pronounced each word deliberately:
“How do you guarantee he won’t turn against us once he reaches the Second Stage?”
“…”
The question plunged the temperature in the conference room to freezing point instantly.
This was a topic only they could discuss, where established rules offered no blueprint.
Yet it was the most crucial question of all.
Conducting Second Stage enhancements on Ability Users wasn’t just fraught with the risk of Loss of Control. There was also the terrifying possibility that, armed with exponentially greater power, one might cease to be a tool and become a wielder instead – gaining ambitions far beyond the original scope, posing an existential threat to Qinggang City itself…
Confronted with this most weighty concern, Professor Bai’s smile appeared relaxed, almost carefree.
“I’ve considered that question, and I believe I’ve found the perfect solution.”
Meeting the intensely curious gazes of the other three, he grinned, snapped his fingers, and declared:
“We sign a contract with him!”