Doomsday Jigsaw Puzzle

Chapter 399: Chapter 16: The Peculiar Supermarket "Freedom" Syndrome

After Tang Jing decided to head to Pike Street with Xu Ling, he made a call to Zhao.

This was also as Zhao had requested, a necessary preparation before the operation. Using various "money"-related channels he could influence, Zhao was able to obtain a lot of information, essentially providing Tang Jing with pre-battle resources and intelligence support during the fight.

"I’ve finally received your call. Looks like you’re about to take action, right?" Zhao’s voice over the phone didn’t seem very excited; there was a hint of worry in his tone.

"Yes. Are there any precautions you need to inform me about?" Tang Jing responded calmly.

Without his master’s help, Tang Jing actually didn’t have much confidence in his and Xu Ling’s ability to complete the mission and eliminate the "distortion."

But someone had to do it.

The news from Zhao not long ago was that people who entered that supermarket never came out.

But it didn’t seem like they were dead; the atmosphere inside was abnormally "peaceful." The police were alerted because someone reported that their friend had undergone a drastic change in personality and was suspected of being kidnapped.

Zhao said anxiously from the other end of the phone:

"Unfortunately, I’m currently also recruiting those who seem to have awakened some sort of supernatural abilities. Actually, not long ago, I indeed formed a team. Unlike you who can sense things Inside the Mist, these people are like an external squad with combat abilities beyond human beings."

Tang Jing didn’t understand why Zhao was telling him this. If Zhao had such a team, then there shouldn’t be a need for him to get involved.

"But after they entered that supermarket... they... how should I put it, changed completely. In short, they no longer obey my orders." Zhao was very troubled.

"Are they being controlled? Like hypnosis?"

"Not quite, their reasoning seems sound, and they have a very strong sense of autonomy... I can’t quite explain it, it’s just that they’re somewhat unreasonable, suddenly telling me on the spur of the moment, why should I take orders from you? For the little money you offer, I don’t give a damn..."

"Ah, this..."

Zhao is definitely generous, and the price he offers is certainly satisfying. At least much higher than the industry standard.

Tang Jing felt that something was amiss:

"What if... try offering more money?"

"Hmm, you’ve really got my style. Indeed, for problems that one million can’t solve, I’ll use ten million. But this time it’s different... This time, they want all of my wealth, these people have undergone a great change in temperament. Moreover, this change seems to be spreading."

Zhao sighed and said:

"I had no choice but to make arrangements for you and your little girlfriend to go. I’m not sure if it’s the right fit, but it’s a crisis situation. Different from various mutations in the past, this time, the infected seem to have a very... negative effect on humans."

Xu Ling, with her powerful senses, could also catch this phone conversation. For some reason, the ability of the superpower inside the supermarket seemed familiar to her.

In his final reminder, Zhao said:

"Anyway, you guys be careful. For now... the place might encounter danger, not the danger from the superpower Inside the Mist, but from outside the supermarket. Before the real danger arrives, I will inform you to leave."

Tang Jing understood; it must be that the anomaly in the supermarket had also caught the attention of some official Aulora organizations.

These people might use any means necessary... to eradicate the infected.

...

...

Olma Supermarket is quite famous in Aulora and is quite large in scale.

Under the cover of night, Tang Jing and Xu Ling sped to the scene, relying on their superhuman physical capabilities and using a not-so-standard but very effective parkour style.

Upon arriving at the scene, Tang Jing immediately felt that strange atmosphere.

The Aulora Security Office personnel had already arrived; seven police cars blockaded the elevator entrance to the supermarket.

In addition, there were nearly twenty security personnel.

Most of them were white, with only a few black officers.

This was normal; people inside the supermarket could only enter but not leave, and someone had initially called the police with concerns of a suspected kidnapping.

Plus, the officials obviously noticed the onset of distortions earlier than ordinary people. Unlike those scientists on TV, those who truly had the capability must have begun formulating strategies by now.

Using distortion to defeat distortion, sensing distortion with distortion. Just like Zhao, they began recruiting exceptional individuals early on. Using these individuals with supernatural abilities to deal with the infected.

But this time... Tang Jing noticed something wasn’t right.

Even Xu Ling, with only a few years of memory, sensed a very distinct... sense of discord.

They crouched on the huge signboard of a restaurant not far from there.

"It’s Evil Fallen." Xu Ling looked at the large supermarket.

Tang Jing was puzzled, how did she know the term Evil Fallen?

Up until now, most people referred to those affected by the distortion as mutants.

But Tang Jing had noticed... Zhao actually differentiated between mutants and the infected.

In Zhao’s words, ordinary people who gained great power were called mutants.

While those who got greater power and underwent bodily changes like Xu Ling were referred to by Zhao as the infected.

Tang Jing couldn’t help but admire Zhao, who had grasped some of the truths within the distortion through the various pieces of information acquired with "money."

There were two types of mutation: one purely a gift, the other, like Xu Ling’s... a transformation from human to non-human.

Those Inside the Mist call this transformation Evil Fallen.

This information wasn’t detailed by Bai Wu; it was all realised by Tang Jing himself. But possibly due to God Descent, Tang Jing seemed to have directly inherited part of the setup’s cognizance.

"Is it like us?" Tang Jing hadn’t forgotten, his master had labeled him as Evil Fallen.

"Not the same... different from you." Xu Ling thought for a moment and then broke the lie.

Tang Jing was taken aback.

Xu Ling said:

"The fact that I’m willing to be deceived by such lies shows that Tang Jing is a very kind person... and I’m glad... you didn’t become a monster like me."

"You’re not a monster."

"Hmm."

Xu Ling remained calm.

Tang Jing was now starting to understand his master’s words, just treat it sincerely, but do not try to strategize too much.

Because Evil Fallen... might not be as simple as they seem. The reason Xu Ling could tolerate the lies was because the master’s initial demeanor... truly was out of kindness, allowing Xu Ling to break free from the shackles of her heart.

Maybe this girl had become a monster, but the master had allowed her Soul to remain human.

Tang Jing rallied his spirits and began observing the surroundings:

"Indeed, just like Zhao said... it’s very strange, and this strangeness, it’s as if it’s really spreading..."

About twenty Aulora police officers originally rushed here, ready and waiting, expecting instructions from above for their next move.

Megaphones, riot gear, firearms, and various other suppression tools were all prepared.

But now, the actions of these people are a bit odd, a bit outrageous.

A middle-aged black police officer had taken off his clothes, exposing his... certain parts.

And, holding his phone, he took selfies, posting statements in various polite community forums that would be censored as "***".

He laughed heartily:

"Fuck it, those who fancy themselves as elites, a bunch of bullshit mongrels, come on! See how strong your uncle’s is!"

Elsewhere, a younger man in a suit, seemingly a negotiator, was on the phone discussing a divorce with his wife:

"No, no, no, you’ve done well, done the right thing, you’ve kept me very comfortable for years, except for acting like a silly bird every day with a bunch of silly birds at some wives’ gathering, I have no complaints about you. But what can I do when I fancy younger, tall-legged ones? And as you know, your shelf life is kind of short. Hahahaha..."

The man who was usually respectful towards his wife, seen by everyone as a model husband, had finally shed his mask. In this call, he proudly told his current wife about the mistresses he was seeing, analyzing each one’s fetishes, skills, and... frequency.

Tang Jing couldn’t imagine... what kind of reaction the wife would have upon discovering that her husband, who respected women and was loyal, was showing this side of himself.

He was starting to understand... why someone would call the police, suspecting their friend had been kidnapped.

Although Tang Jing didn’t know what this white man was usually like, judging by his cultured appearance, he felt sure that the persona he had constructed couldn’t possibly be what it was right now.

Extreme male chauvinism filled with disdain for women.

There were even more outrageous ones; the police chief took up the megaphone and shouted out loud into the inside:

"Oh, why don’t you bastards go die? Don’t you know I should be sleeping with my wife at this hour? Just because of you assholes, because of my good-for-nothing boss who occupies the position and refuses to leave, I have to come to this godforsaken place!"

The future was gone...

This police chief, who usually speaks of human rights and claims to serve the safety of Aulora’s citizens, was now spouting a bunch of statements that despised these people’s human rights.

Even though Tang Jing knew that many of these arrogant people only put on a facade, one shouldn’t put human nature to the test.

But he actually felt some sympathy for them now.

About twenty members of the police force were cursing their former friends, others were pressing their parents on why they hadn’t died sooner.

Some were indecently exposed, brazenly asking, "Hey, how awesome is my body," while others were advising people in the supermarket to just kill themselves. There were even groups who started playing poker on the spot, and some began firing their guns indiscriminately.

Of course, there were the slightly better ones who weren’t so outrageous; a young police officer looked around in fear, feeling that everyone shouldn’t be acting like this while... he took out his phone to play games.

He knew he should persuade his colleagues, but he just couldn’t suppress the desire inside to play some games.

Compared to the others, he was the least affected; he always worked diligently day-to-day, serving tea and running errands for senior officers, and he was committed to solving cases to the best of his ability.

His character was consistent through and through. It was only the penchant of a young man for gaming that was amplified, which led him to start playing "Star Smash Bros."

After some thought, Tang Jing figured he was probably the most normal among these abnormal people.

"What on earth is going on, these officers... why are they... it feels like they’ve completely let themselves go."

"It’s a power, a kind of power that amplifies people’s inner desires to no limit. Once corrupted by this power, they’ll reveal their true selves and do things they wouldn’t even dare to dream of doing."

Xu Ling didn’t know why, but she felt strangely familiar with this power.

"To put it simply, it’s like... doing whatever one desires? Hmm... but this isn’t anything good."

Tang Jing could imagine that most of human desires needed to be suppressed.

Complete indulgence signified degeneration.

If this ability was left unchecked to erode the city, one could imagine how much sin would occur.

Fortunately, for now... the ability had affected only those whose hearts were dark but not exceedingly so. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

Exhibitionism, extreme male chauvinism, pseudo human rights activists—in Tang Jing’s view, the current impact of Evil Fallen was merely causing these hypocrites social death.

Sin had not yet spread. There was still time to stop this crisis.

Tang Jing planned to go and eradicate the source.

Xu Ling was a bit panicked:

"Ah, I... you..."

"What’s wrong?"

Seeing Xu Ling hesitate to speak, Tang Jing was puzzled; Xu Ling lowered her head and said softly:

"How about I go alone... I don’t want to see you... fall."

Tang Jing was stunned.

Xu Ling’s head drooped even lower. She was actually very afraid.

Afraid that Tang Jing had been lying to her, afraid that once Tang Jing entered this realm, he might suddenly turn around, curse her as a monster, as a burden...

Even being deceived was okay; current her disliked being alone. She preferred being used to being discarded. As long as the lies weren’t exposed, that was fine.

Tang Jing chuckled:

"If you go this time, what about next time? And the time after that? I can’t always rely on you. Besides, I’m pretty awesome, remember? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here."

"But... but you will change, this ability will influence you too. Aren’t you afraid of... your true self?"

Truly honest, sharp, and those who directly face their own hearts are rare. Most people loathe their true selves. Vanity, pretense, insecurity, arrogance, greed—human nature is tainted with these to varying degrees.

To Xu Ling, the current Tang Jing wasn’t perfect, but he was adorable.

She didn’t want Tang Jing to become like those vile creatures in human skin. She believed in Tang Jing, but she also feared Destiny.

Tang Jing suddenly understood. He fell silent for a short while, quickly realizing that if he continued to be silent, the spread would only grow larger.

"Humans inherently have many ugly aspects, and perhaps my true nature isn’t that beautiful, which is why I must restrain myself. Innately good people are rare, just like when we were children, when we were naughty without a sense of right or wrong. But as we continue to restrain ourselves, we gradually become good."

"Look at these people, they’re not necessarily bad in everyday life. Perhaps everyone also respects them, and for the sake of gaining that respect, they continuously suppress their genuine thoughts. Although hypocritical, through this process, maybe they really learn to respect women, to respect human rights."

Tang Jing spoke very candidly, and Xu Ling lifted her head, suddenly feeling that in this moment, Tang Jing resembled the Tang Jing she had first met.

Tang Jing began moving in the direction of the supermarket:

"Come on, join me to find out what kind of person I really am. I want to know...

"...if there is any evil side within my heart."