"Research into No. 041 special pollution source has yet to reach any definite conclusions. So far, the research department has only provided us with a few clues!"
Han Bing became extremely serious when discussing these matters.
Even her slightly soft voice took on a little more reason and force:
"After an in-depth investigation, we discovered that Special Pollution Source—041-1, namely the corpse of Qin Ran, the former wilderness wanderer excavated from the bottom of the lake, had DNA matching the tissue samples collected from the place where Cui Wang was dismembered. Special Pollution Source—041-2, namely the corpse that took on Cui Wang's appearance after death, had DNA matching the hair collected from Cui Wang's home!"
"Interrogations of the employees of Sifang Transportation Company and Qin Ran's live-in companions revealed the following:
Qin Ran came from the wilderness. His age is unknown, but judging from his appearance, he was estimated to be between thirty and forty years old.
There were four employees in his company who were familiar with him, but the longest any of them had known him was three years. Their interrogations revealed that although all four claimed to have known Qin Ran for a long time, they could only accurately describe their impressions of him over the past year;
On the day of the incident, three subordinates followed Qin Ran to conduct the transaction. Their statements showed no obvious abnormalities. They all said that Qin Ran had indeed killed Cui Wang, and that they had even helped dispose of the body... However, one of them mentioned that after the incident, Qin Ran's appetite suddenly increased considerably. Although he had always eaten a lot, they still felt that the amount he ate during that period had become somewhat excessive..."
"..."
At this point, Lu Xin remembered how abnormally greedy "Qin Ran" had been for food when they first met, as if he could never get enough. He hurriedly asked, "What does that tell us?"
"For now, it doesn't tell us much. In fact, eyewitness testimony often can't prove anything!"
Han Bing explained, "For certain Mental Mutants, altering memories isn't difficult!"
"This..."
Lu Xin froze when he heard that. Memories could be altered too?
How insane!
"Yes. That's precisely why the research department came up with a hypothesis!"
Han Bing continued, "They believe that Qin Ran, the initial person connected to the clues, was merely a polluted person—and a severely polluted one at that. His true identity was Cui Wang, but he didn't know it and believed himself to be Qin Ran. As for Special Pollution Source—041, discovered at the bottom of the lake, its ability was to capture, devour, and assimilate other mental entities, ultimately giving birth to another version of itself!"
"However, this is only a hypothesis. The research department has not signed the confirmation document for the final results and will not be held responsible for it!"
"..."
"This..."
It took Lu Xin quite a while to accept this explanation before he couldn't help asking, "Then why did he initially seek revenge on Qin Ran?"
"Also, Qin Ran didn't seem to show any abnormalities until the moment before his death..."
"..."
"That is precisely why the research department doesn't dare to reach a definite conclusion!"
Han Bing replied, "But there are several possible directions that can serve as references!"
"First, the mental entities captured at the beginning may still have possessed their own wills. That was why they hated the pollution source's main body!"
"The one who influenced passersby and sought revenge on Qin Ran may not necessarily have been the pollution source's main body. It could also have been a mental entity that had already been captured by the pollution source but had not yet completely fused with it. The way these mental entities influenced passersby may itself have been some kind of 'hunting' method used by the pollution source!"
"Second, no mental entity is perfect, just as every person has their own flaws!"
"A mental entity's essence contains a primitive desire to grow and protect itself, but its state is unstable. Sometimes, even the mental entity itself may display behavior that runs contrary to its essential desires, such as an intense tendency toward self-destruction or self-hatred."
"There have been cases in the past where a Mental Mutant's ability created a Mental Monster that devoured its own creator!"
"Third, the Qin Ran we saw may have been some kind of juvenile form..."
"Juvenile form?"
"Yes!"
Han Bing explained methodically, "One thing we can confirm now is that it was precisely because the 'Qin Ran' Mental Pollution source deeply polluted Cui Wang that Cui Wang became Qin Ran. This change involved not only his appearance, but also his memories and self-perception. Yet even when he saw the pollution source's main body at the very end, all that occurred was confusion in his perception..."
"So the research department has a hypothesis: the Qin Ran that Cui Wang became was merely a juvenile form. As time passed, he would not only have completely transformed into Qin Ran, but might also have remembered more—for example, what form he was in and why he had taken that form!"
"Unfortunately, because of the City Patrol Army's accidental discharge at the time, we lost this research subject."
"However, the research is still continuing. Perhaps we can find useful clues in other cases."
"..."
"From the way she put it, have there actually been many similar incidents in the past?"
Lu Xin thought of the disaster incidents he had heard about that had erupted in several nearby Satellite Cities.
Before officially coming into contact with them, Lu Xin had even thought that his own condition was unique and impossible for anyone else to understand. When he first encountered the monster in the café, he had thought he was being haunted. But as he gradually came into closer contact with them, he discovered that this city had probably experienced many Mental Pollution incidents. It was just that the truth behind them might have been concealed before.
"Are there any others?"
Lu Xin saw a colleague outside the stairwell who wanted to come in for a smoke. But when the colleague noticed that he was on the phone, they quietly left.
Thus, he took the initiative to ask Han Bing, speeding up the conversation.
"Further research and analysis will still take time. If we get any results, we'll notify you then!"
Han Bing spoke in her gentle voice before adding, "In any case, Mr. Lu Xin, you made a great contribution this time. The thirty thousand yuan reward for you has already been transferred into your account. In addition, Team Leader Chen Jing petitioned her superiors and secured an extra six thousand yuan for you!"
Lu Xin nodded. "Oh!"
"Besides the reward, Colonel Chen has arranged a comprehensive examination for you. It should take place in the next few days, so make your preparations!"
"An examination? What kind?"
"A comprehensive assessment of your condition and abilities."
Han Bing paused briefly before adding, "As a matter of routine, there is always an examination like this before formal recruitment!"
"Formal recruitment?"
Lu Xin's heart stirred, but he merely replied, "Oh!"
"Also, we heard that you fired a shot during this incident. You can replenish the bullet you used at the local Guard Department!"
"..."
"They even thought of that?"
Lu Xin was somewhat surprised. He hurriedly said, "Thank you, thank you. Sorry for the trouble, sorry for the trouble!"
After Han Bing finished discussing the serious matters, she became more polite as well. "No, no, you don't need to thank me. We should be saying that you worked hard..."
"No, no, you worked hard..."
"Not at all, you worked hard..."
"..."
After hanging up, Lu Xin calmly smoked a cigarette at the stairwell.
Leaning against the railing, his brows tightly furrowed as the smoke drifted faintly away. He seemed to be contemplating the strange logic behind these pollution incidents.
Quietly, quietly, he suddenly tossed away the cigarette butt and lightly jumped up. "Thirty-six thousand..."
He was just about to leave in a carefree manner when he turned back, stubbed out the cigarette butt on the ground, and put it back into the cigarette pack.
Then he lightly jumped up again. "I'm becoming a full-time employee!"
He took a deep breath and composed himself. Only then did he walk toward the office with light steps.
Although he tried hard to restrain himself, he still couldn't help walking with the confident stride of a full-time employee who no longer had to worry about money!
Before you continue