Chapter 31: Risk of Loss of Control
Chapter 31: Risk of Loss of Control
“The purpose of today’s meeting isn’t for academic debate!”
Seeing the entire office sink into contemplation over a projected numerical value, the middle-aged man seated at the far left end of the table, appearing to be in his fifties, rapped his knuckles on the conference table. With an authoritative expression, he reminded them, “What we need to discuss now is whether recruiting and utilizing an aberrant with such a high Risk of Loss of Control is permissible by regulation!”
“How could it not be permissible?” Chen Jing furrowed her brow towards the man. “His performance today was excellent!”
“But everyone witnessed his unstable mental state…” the man retorted coldly. “His actions against Contamination Source No. 041 already displayed his violent tendencies. And just now, in his conversation with you, it further showed he suffers from severe Mental Aberration. With someone like that possessing an extremely high Psychic Magnitude, have you considered the sheer scale of the devastation he could unleash upon Satellite City No.2, or even the Main City, should he experience a Loss of Control?”
Chen Jing seemed weary of such arguments. “Then what do you propose?”
The man paused for a moment. “When the research project on Spiritual Mutations was first established, it was explicitly stated: individuals with Risk of Loss of Control reaching 80% are absolutely not to be recruited or guided. If the Risk of Loss of Control reaches 90%, preparations for containment measures must be made at all times…”
“Currently, he might not yet warrant containment readiness, but he undeniably possesses a remarkably high Risk of Loss of Control coefficient!”
“Regarding such an individual, I hope he can remain constantly within a state where he can be monitored and controlled.”
“In simpler terms, I would rather spend money keeping him idle indefinitely than have him frequently involved in incidents like Psychic Contamination Events!”
“…”
“Objection!” Chen Jing said firmly. “All we can ascertain right now is his high Psychic Magnitude. We cannot conclusively determine his Risk of Loss of Control is high based on that!”
A touch of anger entered the man’s voice. “He is diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder!”
Hearing this, Chen Jing suddenly experienced a peculiar sensation.
Unbidden, Lu Xin’s earlier words came to mind. She spoke almost instinctively, “Or perhaps, the issue isn’t that he can see his family…”
“…but that we can’t see them?”
“…”
An instant silence fell over the Conference Room.
The man scowled deeply. “Have you lost your mind too?”
Another bespectacled staff member added quietly, “Similar to psychic entities… The weather was clear then, the light of the Crimson Moon plentiful. Many could faintly perceive the form of the Psychic Entity, yet no one saw any so-called… family members on him. This supports the deduction that the ‘little sister’ he mentions is indeed a fantasy… and not… something we just can’t perceive.”
Chen Jing shook her head, unwilling to argue further. She realized her previous remark must have sounded absurd to everyone else.
So, she composed herself, offered a faint smile, and looked directly at the middle-aged man. “If you believe the threat he poses if he loses control is too severe, and therefore reject the idea of guiding him, opting instead for full surveillance or outright expulsion… then have you considered the question of who bears the responsibility if he does lose control? Precisely because he lacked proper guidance? Or if surveillance and expulsion provoke that outcome?”
The middle-aged man fell silent.
To him, Chen Jing was engaging in sophistry, though the point she raised was undeniably difficult to counter.
“Haha, no need for arguments. Debates like this achieve nothing!”
Noting the tense atmosphere from the start, an official-looking elderly man with a plump face and warm smile, seated in the middle, chuckled and mediated. “We are all here for Qinggang City, for the rebuilding of civilization and order! Colonel Chen is naturally more focused on resolving the increasing number of Psychic Contamination Incidents within the city. Minister Shen, equally rightly, is deeply concerned about preventing troubles arising from the Risk of Loss of Control. Our ultimate goal is aligned! There must be a suitable solution.”
Chen Jing took a slow breath. “I maintain my position. I firmly disagree with equating potential threat to actual Risk of Loss of Control. Numerous cases have proven that Mental Aberrants handle Contamination Incidents far more precisely than ordinary people, with the least sacrifice. As for the danger you fear they themselves might pose if they lose control…”
“…that is exactly why Professor Bai proposed earlier: we must guide and cultivate these Mental Aberrants to prevent Loss of Control!”
“Guiding and cultivating are actions taken only when the Risk of Loss of Control is below a certain threshold!” Minister Shen, unable to refute the core principle, countered with a sneer. “And you, you wish to guide a patient in such an unstable state?”
Chen Jing shot back immediately, “The ‘patient’ you refer to just helped Qinggang avert a disaster!”
“And he did it without any casualties among the investigative personnel!”
“…” The middle-aged man looked plainly irritated. “There’s no need for empty talk. I stand by my assessment: according to the foundational standards established at the inception of Qinggang City’s Spiritual Mutation research project, this individual’s Risk of Loss of Control factors clearly place him at 80%, or even higher! I believe such a person should absolutely not be recruited, let alone guided! Colonel Chen, if you insist on recruiting him, then you may sign a document afterward. If this person truly loses control, you will shoulder all responsibility for the fallout!”
Angered, Chen Jing slammed her hand down on the table.
Just as tensions were escalating again towards open conflict, Corporal Han Bing, who had been silent until then, spoke up abruptly:
“Wait! A signal from Professor Bai is requesting connection!”
Hearing “Professor Bai,” everyone’s expression tightened instinctively. They unconsciously sat up straighter.
Swiftly, the projection equipment on the room’s walls activated. Light beams interwove around the long conference table, gradually composing the holographic image of an elderly man with silver hair, dressed in a sharp white suit, leaning on a cane. Once the figure fully materialized, he gave a nod to the table. “I am aware of your discussion. I have also reviewed the young man’s file.”
Chen Jing hurriedly stood up. “Professor Bai!”
The old man in the white suit acknowledged her. “Minister Shen’s concerns are valid. This young man possesses a not-insignificant Risk of Loss of Control.”
“Conversely, his Psychic Magnitude might be even higher than you have imagined.”
“…”
“What?” Chen Jing’s expression instantly became complex.
“In my estimation, the 80% Risk of Loss of Control might even be somewhat optimistic!” Professor Bai sighed softly, then turned slightly towards someone beside him. “Transmit the scanned file to them.”
The projection systems whirred. Within moments, a translucent image of a physical document appeared hovering before each participant at the table, including Chen Jing. Though merely a specter, the text upon it was perfectly legible.
“The Red Moon Orphanage Explosion Incident?”
Reading the title on the document, the air grew palpably heavy.
“This report concerns that young man’s time at the Red Moon Orphanage!” Professor Bai tapped his cane lightly on the virtual floor. “About ten years ago, an incident classified as a suspected explosion occurred in Satellite City No.2. The entire Orphanage was utterly destroyed. Only two people survived. One was him. The other is the current principal of the Red Moon Elementary School, Zeng Xiaolu. Granted, their Orphanage was unlicensed… But reviewing that explosion now, numerous anomalies stand out…”
“Our department was not officially established at the time. We were understaffed and lacked the capacity for thorough analysis and observation. We had to conclude the case hastily, delegated to the City No.2 Police Department as an ordinary explosion incident. Reviewing the case files now, however, reveals many questionable points.”
“No remnants of gunpowder or other explosive materials were found at the scene… yet all the buildings were reduced to rubble with extreme thoroughness…”
“…” Chen Jing listened, her expression gradually growing graver. “What are you implying…”
Professor Bai nodded solemnly. “In my analysis, this very likely constituted a terrifying incident of Telekinetic Power Loss of Control…”
“Telekinetic Power Loss of Control…” Chen Jing drew in a sharp breath. “An event powerful enough to instantly annihilate a three-story building…”
The entire office fell utterly still. Every projected figure seemed plunged into a state of shock, or utter disbelief.
If discovering he initially possessed a Psychic Magnitude of three hundred units – without any prior guidance – was merely shocking…
Then reflecting that he might have manifested Telekinetic Power potent enough to destroy that three-story building ten years prior…
The sheer magnitude of that Psychic Magnitude became almost unfathomable.
It was a figure too terrifying to contemplate deeply – like comparing bullets to bombs.