Old Road (Part 2)

It was clear that in just this short while, the crowd's average stress level had skyrocketed.

But given virtues like optimism and rationality, this clearly wasn't enough.

With the mountain ablaze behind him, Fu Qian watched the people who kept streaming over.

Spreading fear wasn't that easy.

"Before that, I have a question of my own."

Facing Fran, who was visibly worked up, Fu Qian didn't answer her question right away.

"With only an hour left until the end of the world, or being infected and possibly losing yourself at any moment—which scares you more?"

At Fu Qian's smiling question, Fran's face grew even paler. She didn't answer.

But that was fine. The question was meant for everyone.

People had a useful habit: given a choice, they couldn't help but pick one, even when both options were absurd.

And even an unconscious choice could have a suggestive effect.

"Answer her question."

At that moment, Sheriff Jones actually raised his gun, standing up for Fran.

Oh?

Fu Qian turned to stare at him for several seconds. Jones looked utterly resolute, and the safety on his gun was already off.

He was getting a little unstable, too!

"To me, this just looks like a young man who did something wrong and made up a story to get himself off the hook."

Fu Qian put on an exaggerated smile.

"I told you from the start that I was here to find someone. Lasik even got a ticket."

That might have been better left unsaid. The moment Fu Qian mentioned it, Jones's expression shifted as he was forced to remember that bizarre ticket.

A ticket that even its issuer had no memory of writing.

Years in law enforcement had taught him not to trust anomalies without a cause.

Could it be that