Abyssal Wanderer

In the government's senior meeting room on the tenth floor of the resettlement area, a female citizen representative raised her hand toward the projection of Commissioner Bai on the stage.

"I'm sorry, I still don't quite understand. What exactly is the second type of human intelligence collapse scenario you mentioned...does it mean that everyone will have cognitive errors like Wang Ying? Also, how did Superintendent Wang's cognition change? Does this have anything to do with what you said at the beginning, 'the committee predicted that the Nord resettlement area will experience a human intelligence crisis next'?"

In response to this series of questions, Commissioner Bai showed no impatience at all. She nodded and said:

"Let's answer the simplest question first. The cognitive distortion in Wang Ying was implanted by Mr. Jim Leiter before he resigned. After all, he is only at the depth 2 level. It takes a lot of time and energy to complete such cognitive distortion. As for the reason why he did this... it is probably because he hopes to protect her."

As she spoke, a mocking smile appeared on her face, and she continued:

"As a Depth 2 adjuster of the high-risk upgrade path Orpheus, Mr. Jim Leiter was indeed the subject of our investigation at first. But based on his actions tonight, his suspicion can now be roughly ruled out. Next, we even hope to absorb such a rare talent into our investigation team."

As soon as Commissioner Bai finished speaking, everyone in the conference room immediately began to discuss among themselves. After a long while, the conference room gradually quieted down. The vice-chairman sitting next to the rostrum leaned forward and raised his hand and said carefully:

"We can talk about Mr. Jim Leiter later. Commissioner Bai, please talk about the most urgent issue first... What exactly is the second type of human intelligence collapse scenario you mentioned earlier? Why might it happen in the Nord resettlement area in the future?"

"Not likely."

The silver-haired Commissioner Bai shook his finger and corrected:

"The Human Intellectual Ethics Supervision Committee has a high-level adjuster of the Sibyl Path as an advisor. Based on that gentleman's prophecy, we have determined that this is something that will inevitably happen in the Nord resettlement area in the future."

As soon as these words were spoken, the conference room fell silent.

Although most of them were not clear about the capabilities of "Sybil's Path", the title of "High-Level Adjuster" undoubtedly showed that the consultant she was talking about was at least a ruthless person who had reached the limit of Deep 7 intelligence.

With such a big shot endorsing them, all they can do is believe that this is a fact that has not yet happened.

"We are still investigating the reasons why the crisis broke out in the Nord resettlement area, but as of now, it may be related to the network environment in the resettlement area gradually becoming more Abyssal Dark Web due to some influence. It is just unclear whether there are people in the base reality who are using this to cover up their own behavior, or whether it is the influence of some existence in the Abyssal Dark Web."

The boundary between the Abyss Dark Web and the World Wide Web has never been static. Some domain names may be blocked and sent to the Abyss Dark Web because they are contaminated by malicious programs. After determining that some domain names are completely harmless, the Styx Firewall may also open them to the World Wide Web.

The network environment of the Nord resettlement area is now close to being polluted - an unknown existence blocks the outside world's direct interference in this place, making the Nord resettlement area in the network star map appear as empty as a black moon.

It’s just that this situation has not yet been identified by the Styx Firewall as something that needs to be blocked.

"Then let's pray that we are facing the former..."

The deputy speaker who asked the question earlier couldn't help but take out a handkerchief and wipe his bald head.

If this crisis came from the unknown dark web entity that had previously changed the network environment of the Nord resettlement area, then there would be no need for them to struggle - even the Olympus Order had given up the fight, so their chances of survival would be higher if they ran away first.

But if someone just wants to take advantage of this opportunity to fish in troubled waters, then this crisis may be resolved by themselves.

Seeing that no one raised any more questions, Commissioner Bai continued to explain:

"Back to the crisis itself, according to the broken prophecy sent back by the Sibyl Path consultant, this crisis was labeled as the second type, which is wide-area cognitive deviation pollution. This is a scenario of human intelligence collapse that can be achieved through the Orphic Path spectrum technology. In addition, Pygmalion and Narcissus's subspecies technology may also achieve similar effects. In other words, what we need to be most vigilant about at the moment is the adjusters of these three ascension paths."

As he spoke, Commissioner Bai raised his hand and projected several electronic files onto the screen.

"We have strictly blocked all high-risk upgrade routes that can lead to the collapse of human intelligence. Apart from the Olympus Order, it is basically impossible for these high-risk path adjusters to appear in the civilian population. Even the relevant adjusters within the Olympus Order will cooperate with us in registration and monitoring. In this regard, even the company's board of directors fully supports our work. Currently, in our database, Jim Leiter, who once worked at Apollo Biology, is the only adjuster of the Orpheus path in the entire Nord resettlement area, and he is only at the depth 2 level."

Jim's suspicion had now been ruled out, so the file he projected was crossed out and disappeared while he was speaking.

"As for the adjusters of the other two paths, we have currently found a total of seven in the Nord resettlement area. Two are underground, and five are above ground. I have already contacted the Ikaros Liberation Front to help check the two underground, and for the five above ground, please ask our friends from the Peacekeeping Bureau and the Public Security Bureau to help check them."

Wherever Commissioner Bai spoke, he controlled the projection to highlight the mark.

"Um...Commissioner Bai..."

A young citizen representative in the audience raised his hand cautiously.

"You still haven't told us what wide-area cognitive bias pollution is... We understand that this is for confidentiality reasons, but at least you should let us know what we are facing, right?"

He asked.

In response, Commissioner Bai revealed a strange smile - it looked as if he was watching his friend step by step towards the prank he had carefully planned, and was looking forward to his reaction in a few seconds.

"I didn't mention it because you probably don't need to understand. When this kind of crisis strikes, the victim won't even know that he is a victim. Until he dies, he will feel that today is no different from yesterday. But since you asked..."

As she spoke, she opened a live video stream.

This is the first-person perspective of a firepower member of the Riot Control Team, and in front of him is Jim Ritter, who had previously escaped from the fifth-floor Security Bureau.

The riot control squad member stared at Jim who was standing there motionless, swearing and threatening, while pointing the gun in his hand at... the hacker team member standing next to him.

"I beg you not to aim for my head. After all, weren't your orders to bring me back?"

Jim in sight said in a sympathetic tone.

The man who pointed the gun at his teammate said with a sinister smile:

"Bringing back your intact body is a courtesy to them."

As he said this, he pulled the trigger as Jim sighed.

As for the hacker, he faced the gun that was almost against his head. He didn't even blink before he was shot in the head, as if the gun was not aimed at him.

"This is not some kind of hallucination. He can actually see who he is aiming at and who he wants to kill, but the relationship between these two things is distorted. This is the core ability of the Orphic Path, consciousness hacking and cognitive distortion."

Commissioner Bai explained to the people in the meeting room who were suddenly in an uproar:

"Knowing this, the concept of wide-area cognitive bias pollution is easy to understand. The scene you just saw is magnified, and the entire resettlement area and even the whole world are distorted in their cognition... This may make you think that water is poisonous, so you die of thirst; or you may think that the best way to love someone is to kill him, and then kill your beloved with your own hands; or it may make you feel..."

She didn't continue to speak, but just sighed slightly and said:

"People's self-awareness is actually very fragile. Don't really think that common sense is just common sense." (End of this chapter)