Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 39 Division and Sealing

The impact of shutting down personal terminals has exceeded many people's expectations.

Because it greatly undermines the collective consensus of humanity.

Before this situation occurred, all living humans could be called "Ascended Ones," the only difference being the level of their spiritual power.

Furthermore, the post-apocalyptic rules white paper includes methods from the countermeasures research lab to increase the upper limit of mental power. Therefore, many people optimistically believe that being a little behind in the early stages is not a big deal, as they can gradually catch up later.

But the shutdown of personal terminals shattered this illusion completely.

Imagine those who can no longer use their personal terminals—do they still have the right to call themselves "ascended beings"? Will others still acknowledge it?

If this continues, it won't be long before a huge, irreparable gap forms between those who have transcended and ordinary humans.

Not to mention, the newly added [Gene Optimization Fluid] in the Ascension Shop has only fueled this division.

The appearance of this prop starkly reveals that those who purchase and use it will be genetically superior to other humans.

The Fire Thief used only one hidden function and one item to tear away all the veils of affection between humans.

It's like telling all of humanity in the most straightforward way: you will eventually diverge.

This incident has sparked massive online conflicts across the world's online platforms.

Some of the "Ascendants" used malicious language to mock those who couldn't use their personal terminals, saying that they could no longer be called "Ascendants" but only "primitive people."

"Primitive man" isn't the worst thing to say; some people go even further and use insulting terms like "inferior product" or "low-grade horse."

Such behavior will naturally be met with resistance.

The number of people whose mental energy has depleted to zero and whose personal terminals have been shut down is not just one or two; from a global perspective, it is a considerable group.

They would never accept that they had become inferior, so they not only attacked those who spoke rudely online, but also called on everyone to unite and take action together.

Furthermore, those who have attained enlightenment but lack spiritual power are also targets for their recruitment.

One user, whose terminal was closed, replied to the Ascended One who mocked him: "What you say about me today might come back to you tomorrow. When your mental strength drops to 0 due to failing a rule challenge, let's see what you do then."

Yes, many people with low spiritual power are on the verge of reaching zero. Perhaps after one or two more declines, their personal terminals will also shut down.

Therefore, many of them are willing to speak out for those who shut down their personal terminals, knowing that doing so is also for their own future if they might fall into the same situation.

In response to this situation, the official authorities of the Northern Star Kingdom quickly issued a statement.

We solemnly declare that every citizen is equal and equally important.

Anyone who incites hatred or division will be considered to be breaking the law and will be severely punished!
This statement effectively suppressed the various outrageous opinions circulating online.

However, the violent thoughts in everyone's heart can take root and sprout uncontrollably.

……

Limei Hotel, first floor restaurant.

Guan Tong and Xu Xiaotian sat at a dining table, on which were many dishes, all delivered by official transport drones.

The department responsible for providing this food is the Department of Life Support, a new department established by the government after the arrival of the post-apocalyptic rules.

After various "lights-out" factories produce goods, a portion of them are transported to the Department of Social Welfare. The Department of Social Welfare then uses delivery drones to deliver the goods based on the user's online request.

The entire process requires very little manual labor; only a small number of people are needed for overall management.

Of course, large-scale mechanization means a lack of individuality. For example, the meals that Guan Tong and Xu Xiaotian are eating right now are all pre-made dishes.

"Brother Tong, did you know?" Xu Xiaotian said, munching on a chicken leg, "The internet is buzzing about how the personal terminal shuts down when mental energy decays to zero!"

“I saw it,” Guan Tong said. He was eating a simple plate of fried rice with eggs; after being hungry for so long, he felt that this kind of home-cooked meal was much more comforting than a big meal. “I didn’t expect the Fire Stealers to have this trick up their sleeve. Brother Tong, what do you think about those who can’t use personal terminals anymore?”

"do not know."

Guan Tong isn't a god; how could he possibly predict the subsequent developments of this matter?

However, he had a vague feeling that this incident might become a trigger, causing some serious incidents.

"I don't want to see people hurling insults at each other. We're all just trying to survive, why are we attacking each other?"

Xu Xiaotian shook his head and started talking about something else: "By the way, Brother Tong, I bought the new gene optimization liquid in the store this time, but after drinking it, apart from my mental strength limit increasing by 3 points, it seems like there are no other changes."

3:?
Guan Tong remembered that his stock price had surged by 20 points, which showed that the quality difference between the original solution and the ordinary optimization solution was indeed huge.

"Tong-ge, have you had some? How are you feeling?"

Xu Xiaotian implicitly agreed that Guan Tong had bought the gene optimization fluid. This was because both netizens and the official team believed that this item was the most cost-effective product in the Ascension Shop, and buying it was definitely the right choice.

“It may take some time to see more benefits,” Guan Tong said. “After all, optimizing genetic defects is not something that can be done overnight.”

"That makes sense. Let's wait and see. But the interval between these rules is too short, only three days. It doesn't feel like enough time to rest!"

Guan Tong said, "You have instant noodle props, so the rules of the [Fasting Therapy] shouldn't be putting too much pressure on you, right?"

Xu Xiaotian felt awkward for a moment: "Uh, that's true. But the pressure to survive isn't too great, but the mental pressure is quite high! Especially after encountering... that thing!"

Seeing the lingering fear on his face, Guan Tong knew he was talking about being kidnapped.

Buzz!
Just then, Guan Tong's phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out, looked up at it, and said to Xu Xiaotian, "Speak of the devil, and he appears."

"What do you mean???"

"It's nothing, it's a call from the police station."

Half an hour later.

Guan Tong and Xu Xiaotian arrived at the Yunhua City Public Security Bureau together. A security officer led them into a small conference room and told them to wait a moment while the director arrived.

A short while later, Li Meng pushed open the door and came in. He nodded to the two of them and then sat down.

Xu Xiaotian asked curiously, "Um, Director Li, did you call us over because the kidnapping case has been solved?"

"Yes and no." Li Meng got straight to the point. "The local kidnapping gang in Yunhua City, led by Shen Zuohu, has been wiped out, but as far as I know, similar criminal gangs are operating in other cities as well."

Upon hearing this, Guan Tong said, "So, someone is remotely controlling gangs in various cities?"

"Yes."

"Holy crap!" Xu Xiaotian blurted out, "Who has such great abilities? To remotely control gangs in various cities to kidnap people!"

“Shen Zuohu has implicated someone. But this person is in the capital and has a complex network of relationships. Without solid evidence, we cannot act rashly and alert him.”

"The reason I called you here is to tell you something before I leave. Because the criminal gang has a complex network and many connections, your case probably won't be closed in the short term and will be temporarily shelved."

"But you don't need to worry about retaliation in this area. At least Shen Zuohu and other core members of the gang are guilty of serious crimes. Especially Shen Zuohu, who is guilty of murder, kidnapping, and operating a criminal gang... He will be executed soon."

The two fell silent upon hearing this. They hadn't expected that a kidnapping case would involve so many things.

Guan Tong then asked, "Director Li just said that before leaving... does that mean he's leaving Yunhua?"

“Yes,” Li Meng said. “I received orders from my superiors early this morning to be transferred to a task force in the capital. The purpose is to continue investigating this large-scale kidnapping case involving highly psychic individuals that spans multiple cities.”

(End of this chapter)