this infinite world

"Chief, the investigation on the outer layer of the base has been basically completed."

In a secret base 5,000 meters underground, Cole Jenkins, a member of the special operations team wearing heavy protective clothing, returned from the front with an analysis report and respectfully handed it to another young man wearing the same protective clothing. The latter nodded slightly and replied, "Thank you for your hard work."

Surprisingly, the voice that answered was quite young, sounding no more than twenty years old, but there was an indelible sense of fatigue in the voice, as if he had been working overtime for three days and three nights without rest... After the young man took the report handed over by Cole, he began to read it without saying a word. For a moment, the only sound in this space was the rustling sound of flipping through documents.

Seeing that the leader was reading the report word by word very seriously, wishing he could chew it up and swallow it, Cole looked away and began to carefully watch for abnormal situations around him. But for some reason, the more he observed, the harder it was for Cole to concentrate, so that after a few minutes, he thought of a rumor that the organization had recently spread...

"You seem to have a lot to say."

"I was just wondering, this might be...ah!"

Cole realized what he had said halfway through his words, and when he looked at the leader's helmet, he shuddered involuntarily.

What kind of eyes are those?
Even though he was wearing a thick protective suit, his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's, and the look behind the helmet was even colder. It was only then that Cole recalled the identity of the man in front of him... You know, as the most ruthless disciplinarian in the organization, this leader of one of the three O6s was feared by most people in the organization and was known as the most ruthless person in the organization!

"Chief, Chief..."

"… Never mind. It's not your fault."

Seeing Cole's legs trembling, as if he was afraid that he would be dragged out and executed on the spot without explanation, the cold young man's eyes flashed with helplessness. He sighed, patted the former's shoulder and comforted him: "Focus on yourself and don't be affected by the environment here... The report pointed out that although there is no abnormal radiation inside the base, a high concentration of pheromones can be detected, which may affect your judgment."

"I have also heard about the recent internal affairs. After all, the organization used to consume so many panaceas every day. Suddenly, it entered a restricted stage. It must have caused people to be uneasy. Some rumors are flying..."

"Leader, something unusual has been discovered ahead!"

Before he finished explaining, an anxious voice suddenly came from the communicator in the protective suit. Upon hearing this, the stern young man's eyes immediately condensed and he ran out at full speed. Even with the weight of at least 30 to 40 kilograms, his speed was completely beyond that of an Olympic champion... and soon, the stern young man bypassed several corridors and rushed to the target location.

It was a space of several hundred square meters, and in the center of the space stood a huge apple tree. The trunk of the tree was so thick that it took three people to hug it. The trunk was straight, the branches were thick, the leaves were lush green, and the branches were full of huge apples, each of which was shining with an attractive luster...

——Golden, shiny.

But not far from this apple tree that didn't fit in with the surrounding steel walls, the members of the extremely elite special operations team of the rebel organization were lying on the ground in all directions, and only the one who had issued the warning earlier was also shaky...

"Chief, be careful with that tree, there's something wrong with it... Ugh!"

Before he finished speaking, the only special operation team member who had not fainted seemed to take a step uncontrollably towards the apple tree, and this battle-hardened soldier gritted his teeth and pressed a button at hand. Immediately, an injection was pushed into his body, and the high concentration of chemical agents immediately made him fall into a coma.

For a moment, the cold young man was the only one who could still stand there. He looked at the apple tree not far away, frowned deeply, and did not move. "Chief, what happened here--"

It was not until this time that Cole, wearing protective clothing, followed the stern young man to the scene, but before the late special operations team member could stand firm, the apple tree came into his sight.

——And the next moment, the world in Cole's eyes collapsed into the winding lines on a tree trunk.

"It's breathing..."

The moment this subconscious word came out of his mouth, the rough bark turned into flowing amber in Cole's eyes, and his breathing gradually synchronized with the pulse of the tree. Although there was no airflow at all in the secret base 5,000 meters underground, the treetops suddenly moved without wind, and millions of leaves trembled at the same time, making a rustling sound like silk friction, and the sound turned into a melody.

In Cole's eyes, the entire space was filled with a warm, motherly atmosphere, forming a primitive, trembling temptation that made people involuntarily want to get closer and return: "Just one bite..."

"Snapped!"

Suddenly, a fist hit Cole's abdomen heavily. Although it was through the thick protective clothing, the blow seemed to directly affect his internal organs, making him almost vomit his overnight meal... But thanks to this punch, Cole woke up!
"I, what's wrong with me?"

Feeling the severe pain in his abdomen, Cole regained some clarity and looked at the lush apple tree with cold sweat on his forehead.

You know, as a member of the rebel organization O4, Cole is, after all, a battle-hardened member of the special operations team. He has been to the disaster sites caused by memes several times and has risked his life without fear of danger. He has also led a team alone and solved the memetic effects caused by the containment objects several times with his companions. He thinks he is strong-willed and fearless... But why did he behave so poorly in front of this apple tree?
"…This is not your problem. You are just a mortal like the one in the myth, unable to resist the temptation of the 'apple' in the Garden of Eden."

The stern man who had woken Cole from his abnormal state with a punch shook his head. He looked up at the apple tree with three points of amazement and seven points of solemnity in his eyes: "After all, to some extent, it is already the true 'Tree of Life' and 'Fruit of Immortality'."

Legend has it that in Greek mythology, there is a golden apple tree. The "Apple of Hesperides" named after the god represents immortality and is the food that keeps the gods young and energetic forever.

Although the apple tree in front of me is not as brilliant as the one in the myth, it also exudes a thrilling vitality. The surface of the fruits hanging on the branches flows with a halo like molten gold, and the golden veins under the peel flicker like breathing. The filtration system of the protective clothing should be isolated from all smells and influences, but a fragrance between amber and frankincense still penetrates, and every time I inhale, my cells tremble in joy...

"…This is no longer a situation you can handle. If the memetic effect here spreads, it will surely cause absolute chaos."

"Everyone, listen to my orders. Take the unconscious companions here and retreat to the base entrance as quickly as possible."

Even in the face of such a great temptation, this cold-blooded young man remained absolutely sober. He first commanded his team members in the same tone as usual: "If I don't show up after six hours, the eight O5s will take over my work and tell the other two O6s exactly what happened here."

The stern young man closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his eyes were blank: "The next containment mission will be carried out by me, an O6..."

"Li Ganglei completed it alone." (End of this chapter)