Chapter 18
Chapter 18
“Compile everything we have, including your hypothesis, and send it to Su Chen. Mark it clearly as speculation and let him analyze it and make his own decision. Tell him we support any choice he makes unconditionally and that he should feel no pressure.”
Elder Qin answered firmly.
The young man in glasses heard Elder Qin’s order.
He turned and left the conference room to arrange the hint.
Su Chen soon received the message.
It began with an analysis of the rules discovered so far.
He looked it over. The conclusions were broadly similar to his own, with only a few differences in individual hypotheses.
None of those differences affected the overall situation.
Then came the Silent Hill theory.
The zoo might have an Otherworld, and the Aquarium might exist within it.
It might even lie at the boundary between the two worlds.
Cognitive contamination could be the key to switching between them.
Su Chen’s pupils contracted sharply when he read the theory.
It had never occurred to him.
Yamashita Kenichiro’s words and behavior had led him toward a theory.
The Aquarium might be related to cognitive contamination.
Combined with Longguo’s hint, he could now roughly imagine one possibility.
For the moment, however, it was not especially important.
He could set it aside for later.
Below that was information obtained by contestants from other countries.
Now Su Chen understood what had happened to Yamashita.
He had not expected the man’s own country to land a critical hit on him.
Su Chen smiled and continued reading.
At the end was a message from Longguo.
[Su Chen, everything above is only your country’s advice. Analyze it and act according to your own judgment. Rest assured that the country will raise no objection and will support your actions unconditionally. Do not place too much pressure on yourself. Even if you fail, you remain a hero of Longguo. Longguo does not fear a mere natural disaster. The people of Longguo will triumph over Heaven!]
When Su Chen reached the final message, he read it carefully.
A smile appeared on his face.
No matter what disaster they faced, the people of Longguo always combined iron resolve with tenderness.
They showed their iron side to enemies and obstacles.
Yet they always treated their own people with warmth.
Foreigners would never understand how Longguo had risen from a weak and broken nation to stand among the world’s leading powers.
This was the reason.
National pride gradually burned in Su Chen’s heart.
With me here, Longguo will never fail again. I will raise Longguo to the summit.
Su Chen vowed silently.
He closed the message, looked away, and warily surveyed his surroundings.
To his surprise, Yamashita Kenichiro had endured.
He was staring at Su Chen with venom.
The instant he noticed Su Chen looking back, he hurriedly put on a smile.
Su Chen could not help smiling himself.
This Yamashita from Sakura Nation was rather calculating.
Even after learning the truth, he could suppress himself and continue the pretense. He had some ability after all.
Su Chen chose not to expose him. They continued forward, exchanging occasional remarks.
Before long, a disturbance broke out behind the crowd.
Su Chen’s heart jolted. Thinking that “It” had begun to act, he immediately looked back.
A group of people with rabbit ears had entered the Elephant Enclosure, including Ugly Nation’s contestant.
Another group walked beside them, thick fur covering their bodies and faces.
They looked like gorillas.
Seeing them, Su Chen instantly remembered the information Longguo had sent.
They must be the people who had taken the right-hand path in the Primate Enclosure.
That path was not an escape route and carried extraordinarily severe contamination.
Those already contaminated with rabbit ears had remained as they were, while the others were transforming into primates.
Su Chen sighed, knowing they were probably beyond saving.
Then his heart gave a violent leap.
Rabbit ears? Rabbit-ear accessories?
He realized he had overlooked several rules.
The Visitor Rules said:
[If you see someone wearing rabbit-ear accessories following the crowd into the Elephant Enclosure, open your eyes wide and watch the show. This will ensure your safety. (The latter portion was printed in blue.)]
The Employee Handbook said:
[If you see someone wearing rabbit-ear accessories enter the Elephant Enclosure, disperse all nearby visitors at once and guard the entrance until you hear a child scream from inside.]
Both rules emphasized the same thing: when someone wearing rabbit-ear accessories entered the Elephant Enclosure, something was certain to happen.
Su Chen had paid little attention before this group entered.
Only now did he realize the truth.
This had nothing to do with accessories at all!
It concerned the people who had grown actual rabbit ears.
At the same time, a question arose in his mind.
Why had he, who had memorized every rule, been unable to think of something so simple before?
Was it because of contamination in the shop?
Or had something already affected him without his noticing?
Su Chen racked his brain.
Then his heart leaped violently again.
Cold sweat covered his back.
At a moment like this, why was he standing here lost in thought instead of running?
Something was definitely wrong with him!
Fortunately, Su Chen woke completely to the danger.
He pushed through the dazed crowd and sprinted toward the exit of the Elephant Enclosure.
All the while, he repeated one sentence in his mind.
I am human.