Apocalypse Rules White Paper

"...So something like this actually happened."

As soon as Guan Tong went online, he discovered that the questions baffling him had already been thoroughly figured out by clever netizens.

Quite a few people online had analyzed Mind Power, the Ascension Shop, and titles.

But even more were fiercely criticizing the authorities.

A post titled Hidden Rules Concealed by the Authorities had already received several million views.

Its main purpose was to accuse the authorities.

"Everyone may not know this yet, but Rule One of the Apocalypse Rules had a Hidden Rule: knocking someone unconscious earned you an item called [Sobering Mint Candy]. After use, this item kept you absolutely awake for three hours.

"The question is, perhaps for the sake of stability, the authorities suppressed this information. Yet some people still learned of this rule and used it, which is why so many people have the title 'Rule Breaker.'

"Think about it. Isn't this unfair? Those who knew this Hidden Rule could deliberately attack those who didn't, and the latter would definitely fall victim! This was undoubtedly a major policy error by the authorities. All citizens should have the right to know about any information concerning the Apocalypse Rules!"

This post drew a great deal of attention and replies. Everyone's views were largely the same: they all demanded that information be shared.

Some even called for people with the title "Rule Breaker" to be publicly prosecuted and convicted of "murder."

However, quite a few people also argued against that view.

"How are these people any different from murderers? During Rule Time, falling unconscious means death!"

"You can't put it that way. After all, some people discovered the rule by sheer coincidence. They didn't do it deliberately."

"The person above is right. If they're really going to punish people, there should be two categories: those who didn't know about the Hidden Rule, and those who knew about it but still knocked others unconscious. Only the latter committed intentional murder!"

"The question is, how are you supposed to tell the difference? Besides, will the authorities really deal with this? Enough people have already died because of the rules..."

"Anyway, I made it through on my own! Ascension Coins can be traded, right? From now on, I'll only trade with people titled 'Order Keeper.' Never with 'Rule Breakers!'"

"+1 to the person above."

"If you keep this up, won't humanity end up split into two camps, Order Keepers and Rule Breakers?"

"This is getting more and more chaotic..."

"Stop arguing. Have you seen the Apocalypse Rules White Paper published by the authorities? It's actually pretty comprehensive. Everyone should take a look."

After reading this far, Guan Tong felt that many of the netizens in the post had valid points.

The authorities' concealment of the Hidden Rules had indeed struck a nerve with the public.

It would create issues of public trust, and when more Apocalypse Rules descended in the Follow-up, it could leave everyone fearing for themselves.

As for the information about Order Keepers and Rule Breakers, it made Guan Tong think of Fang Qian.

"I wonder whether her title is Order Keeper or Rule Breaker? Forget it... It has nothing to do with me."

Guan Tong no longer intended to have any further involvement with Fang Qian. Whatever became of her was none of his concern.

He opened a new Webpage and searched for the White Paper the netizens had mentioned, the one published by the authorities.

The search results showed that the White Paper had been released by the "Apocalypse Rules Countermeasure Research Office." It seemed to be a newly established department.

Guan Tong downloaded the White Paper to view it locally.

Apocalypse Rules White Paper, Version 1.0

Author: Apocalypse Rules Countermeasure Research Office

Introduction: This White Paper aims to help Readers understand information related to the Apocalypse Rules, so that Readers may better meet the challenges brought by the rules.

"Let's see if there's anything useful in here."

Guan Tong dragged down the scroll bar and jumped to the list of [Technical Terms].

[Ascension Coins]

1. They can be used to purchase items in the Ascension Shop. According to repeated tests, each person can currently purchase only one item. That item is often related to one's personality, wishes, and inner emotions, and can only be displayed through searching.

2. The Personal Terminal shows that Ascension Coins can be traded with others. However, tests have currently found no tradable items. Note: The only currently known special item, [Sobering Mint Candy], is a non-tradable item.

"...The shop can only buy one item right now, and it's related to the person's personality and so on. It can only be displayed through a search. No wonder I could only find that [Wordless Book]. Looks like everyone else is in the same situation."

Guan Tong felt that this gave him the impression of a "personal exclusive weapon."

It was just that, with his [Wordless Book], he still couldn't see how it could be used as a "weapon."

Still, this White Paper answered another one of his questions.

[Sobering Mint Candy] could not be traded. He had considered before that if this thing could be traded, it would probably become the hardest currency of all hard currencies.

But if it could not be traded, its value would be greatly reduced.

Especially after Rule One of the Apocalypse Rules ended, no one knew whether it would still be useful afterward.

He continued reading.

[Mind Power]

1. According to research, items purchased from the Ascension Shop can be used by injecting Mind Power into them as energy, which is then consumed.

2. Mind Power automatically recovers after being consumed. Recovery times vary. Tests show that some people recover 1 point in as little as ten-odd minutes, while others need as long as one to two hours to recover 1 point.

3. No method of increasing the Mind Power Cap has currently been found, and everyone's cap differs. It is currently known that people who have used [Sobering Mint Candy] tend to have lower caps, with the cap decreasing the more they use. From this, it can be roughly inferred that this cap may be related to one's willpower.

4. Comprehensive Biological Information Evaluation appears to be related to the Mind Power Cap. Current verification from multiple sources shows that 80 points is rated "average," below 80 is "inferior," and 100 is rated "excellent."

Of the four pieces of information on Mind Power, Guan Tong already knew the first two. Only the latter two were new to him.

"Then my Mind Power Cap of 96 should count as fairly high? And it looks like someone reached 100... Reaching the excellent rating should be pretty impressive."

Below the technical terms were specific recorded Apocalypse Rules. At present, only one had been recorded.

[Apocalypse Rule One: Sleep Deprivation]

[Rule Content: From the time the rule is issued, you must not enter a sleep state in any form for 72 hours.]

[Survival Reward: 100 Ascension Coins, Mind Power]

[Failure Penalty: Once you enter a sleep state during the rule's effective period, you will never wake up again.]

[Note: It is known that some Homo sapiens on Tianshui Star once remained awake for 297 consecutive hours. Seventy-two hours is far from the limit. Please do your best to pass.]

[Hidden Rule: Knocking another person unconscious in any form grants one "Sobering Mint Candy," which can maintain absolute wakefulness for three hours after use.]

The content was basically all known to the public. The only difference was that the authorities had compiled the Hidden Rule into the White Paper.

"Looks like whenever a new rule appears from now on, the White Paper will be updated... That's good. At least it gives the public a channel for learning the latest information."

"Still... if there's another Hidden Rule next time, I wonder whether the authorities will conceal it again?"

Guan Tong thought, I wonder if next time I'll still be able to see the Hidden Rule's contents directly, just like this time?