Chapter 8: Test

After a while, the middle-aged man asked questions for about another half hour before he finally wrote down his final conclusion.

……

Ding Mo sat cross-legged on the bed, his expression somewhat helpless.

Just in the past half hour, that unknown voice had questioned him from every angle, covering him almost entirely without a single blind spot.

The way it went, it was as if it couldn't wait to pry out all the study materials from his secret hard drive.

After a great deal of effort, he had finally managed to endure until the end.

It was just that he didn't know what they would do on their end.

To be honest, even now, Ding Mo still didn't know what organization or force these people were, or what their purpose was.

He only knew they were affiliated with the authorities, so he should be able to trust them a little.

Beep-beep!

At this moment, an electronic sound suddenly came from the "Yumen," and then with a "click,"

it opened.

The first thing Ding Mo saw was the pitch-black muzzle of a gun.

……

"The subject's cognition is very clear; there are no abnormalities or tendencies of a Fake Person."

"Conclusion: Contact can be attempted for further observation."

A person wearing a gas mask and a full-body hazmat suit was sitting across from Ding Mo, conversing with him.

This was a place similar to a psychological counseling room, with auxiliary tools like a sand tray placed on the shelves around them.

At this moment, besides Ding Mo and the other person, there was a circle of men in black standing in the room.

They were holding guns; although they were not loaded, they remained vigilant at all times.

"I say," Ding Mo pointed at the men in black nearby:

"Doctor, they aren't wearing anything, is it necessary for you to dress like this?"

It wasn't that Ding Mo was complaining, but this person was too exaggerated, making it seem as if he were some kind of pathogen aggregate—to touch him was to fall ill, to smell him was to die.

"Oh, it is certainly necessary." The doctor's muffled voice came from under the Mask:

"They have guns and have undergone rigorous training, but I have not.

"I am just a psychiatrist."

"Doctor! I will emphasize this one more time: I am not sick." Ding Mo said righteously.

"I know." The doctor nodded: "You all say that."

"……"

Ding Mo sighed.

"Don't be discouraged." The doctor seemed to be observing him; seeing this, he comforted him while writing something on a piece of paper:

"For people like you, there is actually no difference between being ill and not being ill.

"As long as you don't have an episode at will, it's fine."

"……Fine, then do you think I look like someone who would have an episode at will?"

"That point remains to be observed before a conclusion can be reached, but I can confirm that your mental state is not bad yet." The doctor said, signing the paper and stamping it with a red seal.

Then he smiled: "Congratulations, you won't be locked up anymore."

"Then I really thank you all." Ding Mo said, finally having the opportunity to ask the question he cared about:

"Can you tell me what the situation is now?"

Upon hearing this, the doctor patiently explained:

"The situation is actually very simple."

"You came into contact with something, which caused mental and even cognitive problems."

"Is it because of that Phenomenon 5 years ago?"

"Correct, you are very smart." The doctor nodded.

"5 years ago, that Phenomenon was very abnormal; basically, everyone who came into contact with it developed cognitive distortion without exception.

"And our Processing Bureau is the agency specifically established by the authorities to handle such incidents."

"Processing Bureau?"

"Human Pollution Safety Processing Bureau."

"Is it you who are deceiving the public?" Ding Mo frowned and questioned him.

If it weren't for their lies—saying the Phenomenon didn't need to be worried about—his predecessor would likely have run away after encountering it and wouldn't have continued to go to work.

The doctor shook his head and laughed upon hearing this: "It is not deception, but protection!

"As long as an ordinary person comes into contact with it, they will be 'Polluted,' and this is not something that can be eliminated just by staying away in time."

When the doctor said this, he pointed at Ding Mo's neck and his eyes,

"For example, your pig mask,

"And for another example, the 'Threshold' currently in front of your eyes."

……Does that mean I have already been polluted by the 'Typewriter'? Ding Mo's expression darkened slightly.

No wonder this thing was still there after the Task ended; it turns out this is also a type of "Pollution"!

"'Pollution' is transmitted based on the mental level of cognition," the doctor continued to explain:

"So the best way to handle it is to divert the public's attention while secretly blocking the transmission.

"We do not ask others to understand, but this is indeed the best measure."

Ding Mo did not speak, digesting this series of information.

In other words, as long as the predecessor came into contact with the pig-headed employee, everything that followed became irreversible?

"Alright, that's enough for now; you will have opportunities to know about other things."

"One last question," the Doctor said, picking up his pen again.

"From the end of the Typewriter Task until now, a total of over 3 hours have passed; what is your current Threshold?"

"Please answer truthfully, as this concerns your future living arrangements."

Living arrangements?

Ding Mo was stunned: "Didn't you say I was free?"

The Doctor's Mask lifted slightly:

"We did say we would give you freedom, but we never said you could go wherever you wanted."

Seeing Ding Mo's unpleasant expression, he added:

"Let's put it this way, Mr. Ding, you might not have realized it yet."

"Just like everyone else, this might only be your first 'Typewriter' Task."

"The matter is far from over."

"..."

Just like everyone else? There are many other Polluters like me?

That is to say, there will be a next task? Or even the one after that?!

Thinking of the various bizarre and dangerous events during the task, even if Ding Mo were an optimist, he could not look happy.

But he still said:

"My Threshold is the same as when I first came out, it is full."

"Understood."

The Doctor replied, and Ding Mo saw him write "100%" on the paper.

Ding Mo blinked.

That's not right, his Threshold is "142%"!

He just wanted to speak up, but suddenly stopped himself.

Wait, if according to common logic, completing a Typewriter Task could increase the Threshold cap,

then these people couldn't possibly not know!

They should have dealt with countless people like him already.

Yet this Doctor still subconsciously wrote "100%", and without any hesitation or doubt, as if he believed it should only be so.

So... Ding Mo vaguely realized something in his heart.

So actually, the increase in my Threshold cap has nothing to do with the Typewriter Task, at least not directly?

Ding Mo couldn't help but recall that intense pain when he was teleported back.

"Alright." Just as Ding Mo's thoughts raced in those few short seconds, the Doctor finished his recording.

He stood up and smiled: "Based on my experience, if you haven't lied... I sincerely hope you haven't, it's for your own good.

In any case, your condition is excellent, ranking among the top of all the patients I have seen.

"You should be assigned to a better 'Isolation Zone'."

Isolation Zone? Ding Mo did not ask further; he also stood up and nodded at him.

"Thank you, Doctor."

Ding Mo did not intend to tell him about his abnormal Threshold.

Judging by these people's style of doing things, if he spoke up, this strange anomaly would likely immediately trigger a violent reaction, and he would undergo tests even more terrifying and lengthy than the ones just now!

And if he were to be careless during the testing... Ding Mo glanced at the men in black approaching from around him, and the firearms in their hands.

He could not believe they were all loaded with blanks.

"Mr. Ding." One of the men took out a black hood and said to him:

"Next, we will take you away from here.

"Please put this on."