On the afternoon of April 1st, the Human Federation convened for a remote meeting.
On screen, the commissioners appeared in rooms made of either pure metal or solid wood. The common thread was the complete absence of plastic.
After the meeting began, Mary was the first to bring up the issue of rotating the chairmanship.
"The rotation schedule for the Human Federation chairmanship was set previously: a new chair would be chosen every year, starting from the date of the first Apocalypse Rule. The first term was a bit over a year, as the Federation was established after several rules had already appeared. It has now been exactly two years since the first rule, so it’s time for a rotation."
The other commissioners all turned to look at Gao Liangwei, who replied calmly, "If those are the rules, I have no objection."
Mary immediately said, "Then let’s start the vote now."
Just then, Toravt interjected, "What’s the rush? Isn’t the issue with the new rule more important?"
"Commissioner Toravt is right," Gao Liangwei said. "Dealing with the rule is more important. The vote for the chairmanship can be held after this meeting."
"I support that."
"Agreed."
Mary’s brow furrowed slightly, but seeing that the other commissioners all supported Gao Liangwei, she didn’t press the issue.
Gao Liangwei shared a video to the screen. It featured a North Star researcher explaining the dangers of microplastic poisoning.
The researcher began, "Regarding the increased toxicity of microplastics in this new ’Microplastic Contamination’ rule, preliminary lab data shows that its destructive effect on the human body has been amplified by over a thousand times."
At the mention of "over a thousand times," several commissioners gasped audibly.
Mary and Toravt, however, seemed to have expected this. It appeared their nations’ labs had also been racing against time to conduct experiments and calculations since the rule was announced.
The researcher in the video continued, "We’ve discovered that the increased toxicity of microplastics stems from two factors. First, their absorptive capacity has been greatly enhanced, turning them into super-sponges that rapidly soak up large amounts of endogenous toxins in the bloodstream and release them in concentrated doses within cells, thereby destroying internal organs."
"Second, there are the additives within the microplastics themselves. Under normal circumstances, these release slowly. But since the rule’s enactment, their polymer structures have become extremely unstable, causing them to release all of their toxic additives into human tissue in a very short time. This is equivalent to the human body absorbing, all at once, a chemical toxin impact that would normally take decades to accumulate!"
"The combination of these two changed properties makes the human body exceptionally vulnerable to microplastics. Inhaling just a small amount, on top of what has already accumulated in the body, will lead to rapid organ failure and death."
"As for a solution..." The researcher in the video shook his head. "Unfortunately, physical barriers and isolation from microplastics are virtually the only methods. Alternatively, certain special Psychic Power items or abilities might be effective. But with humanity’s current level of medical technology, we cannot stop the microplastic contamination on a pharmaceutical or chemical level."
When the video ended, the commissioners fell silent.
The brief experimental report was enough to demonstrate the magnitude of the threat this rule posed.
But that wasn’t all.
Mary spoke up. "We in Soloma have also conducted research, primarily on food. I suggest you all take a look."
With that, Mary played a video of her own.
The video showed lab technicians in hazmat suits and high-grade filter masks measuring samples of bottled water, soft-canned goods, salt, sugar, and seafood.
The measurement results all appeared on their instruments, showing staggeringly high levels of microplastics.
Mary said, "As the North Star researcher just explained, the microplastics’ absorptive capacity has been greatly enhanced since the rule was announced. This causes them to absorb external viruses and contaminate any food they come into contact with. From a data perspective, common foods and bottled water are now extremely dangerous. If consumed at the previous frequency, organ failure will occur in two to three days at most."
"Two to three days!" one commissioner exclaimed, unable to contain his shock. "That’s no time at all! Where are we supposed to get that much clean food in such a short period?"
Mary shrugged. "The data is the data."
"My country’s food reserves are already low. We must rely on external aid," another commissioner said, his gaze sweeping over several people before finally landing on Gao Liangwei. "Commissioner Gao, can North Star lend a hand?"
Gao Liangwei’s expression was grim. He didn’t answer immediately.
Mary said coolly, "Let’s not put Commissioner Gao on the spot. With North Star’s population, they’ll be lucky to take care of themselves. How could they have the spare resources to help other nations?"
Instead of offering some grand, empty promise, Gao Liangwei stated frankly, "That’s right. We have not yet solved our own food supply issues. It would be difficult to provide aid."
"Then what are we going to do...?"
The commissioners from the smaller nations looked desperate. Without aid, this new rule would mean almost certain death for the general population in their countries.
Toravt mused, "I’m afraid Sisiya is in no position to help either. As you all know, our nation has just stabilized after a period of internal turmoil. Solving the food problem for our own citizens will be difficult enough."
"We in Soloma, on the other hand, can help others." Mary’s words immediately brought a look of joy to the faces of the commissioners from the smaller nations.
"And it would be much more convenient to provide that help if we were the chair nation of the Human Federation."
"..."
Everyone was speechless at Mary’s blatant, transactional vote-wrangling. But many nations were indeed in desperate need of outside food aid, so they could only nod in agreement.
This made Toravt’s expression turn particularly sour.
As Sisiya’s representative, he had also intended to vie for the Human Federation chairmanship. But now that Mary had pulled this move, he was certain to lose the vote.
A hint of smugness touched Mary’s lips before she continued, "But let me be clear: we can’t supply whatever you need. The amount is limited."
"Then what happens to those who don’t get enough?" a commissioner asked nervously. "Are we supposed to just let our citizens die of organ failure?"
"Who said the only alternative to not having enough food is waiting to die?" Mary shook her head. "Have you all forgotten about that hidden piece of intel?"
The others were taken aback. Gao Liangwei, however, immediately understood her meaning and frowned. "Commissioner Mary, are you suggesting that groups without enough food collectively inject themselves with high-density microplastics?"
"Why not?" Mary retorted, holding up her hands to form the numbers "0" and "5."
"Without enough clean food, the survival rate after widespread organ failure is almost zero percent. But by injecting high-density microplastics, there is a fifty percent chance of triggering a Plasticization Activation Reaction, granting immunity to the toxic effects. In other words, if you have one hundred people with no clean food, they would all die. But if they are all injected, probability says fifty of them would live... Am I wrong?"
"...But the fifty who survive will lose the ability to reproduce..."
Mary sneered. "Is being unable to have children more important than staying alive? I don’t think so."
The commissioners fell silent once more.
As cruel as the proposal was, it was a trade-off that had to be considered in a crisis.
"Well then, let’s begin the vote for the new chair nation," Mary said, raising her hand. "All commissioners who support the Soloma Empire for the chairmanship, please raise your hand."
...
「That evening, at the Book Page Sanctuary.」
In the living room, White Star stared curiously at the double-triangle pattern on her palm. "So, is this like a standard-issue symbol for every member of our brigade?"
Beside her, Black Star was exasperated. "What symbol? Didn’t the Captain tell you? It’s a ’Mental Stability Anchor’ to protect against psychic attacks."
Earlier, the four of them had held a meeting. After Guan Tong had laid out the three official rules for the brigade, he gave both Black Star and White Star a Mental Stability Anchor.
This provided a two-fold guarantee: first, with this totem on their hand, they would have an automatic defense against psychic attacks, preventing them from being ambushed. Second, Guan Tong could use "Body Shifting" to appear beside them at any time.
Guan Tong considered this a sort of "brigade perk." If other members joined in the future, they would each get one as well.
"I know it’s a Mental Stability Anchor," White Star said. "But if only brigade members have them, then we can treat it as our organization’s symbol, right?"
"...I guess anyone the Captain cares about will probably get one."
Although White Star’s logic was a bit of a stretch, Black Star felt it made a certain kind of sense.
"When Lun wakes up, we should have the Captain make one for him, too," White Star said.
Black Star smiled faintly. Just then, Guan Tong came down from upstairs. The two siblings immediately stood up and said, "Captain."
"You don’t have to be so formal and stiff," Guan Tong said. "Like I said before, we came together for a common goal. There’s no strict hierarchy here."
Black Star scratched his head. "Got it. Oh, by the way, Captain, White Star and I were just talking, and we made a decision."
"What decision?"
"We’re not giving up our roles as information brokers."
"Oh?" Guan Tong asked. "Didn’t you say you were going to quit after your brother was cured?"
White Star spoke up. "Captain, my brother and I feel that our vast network of Ascenders in Sisiya is our greatest asset to the brigade. We can use it to gather intelligence and to help you continue acquiring Psychic Power."
Guan Tong thought about it for a moment and realized they had a point.
They had worked hard to build a gold-star reputation as brokers in Sisiya and establish a massive intelligence network. It would indeed be a shame to just abandon it.
"It’s your decision," Guan Tong said. "But don’t do it just for the brigade’s sake. I don’t want my members sacrificing their own happiness and time to do things they don’t enjoy."
"No, no, it’s not like that," Black Star said, waving his hand. "Without the pressure of saving money for Lun, we can take a more relaxed approach to the job. We won’t mind it then."
Guan Tong nodded, but then his gaze suddenly became incredibly sharp!
"What’s wrong, Captain?"
Both of them could tell something was wrong.
"I have to go out, it’s urgent!" Guan Tong took a filter mask from his Storage Ring and put it on, then called Shangyuan Zi out of her room.
"Shangyuan, Shadow thinks it’s found our target. I’m going to check it out. You two stay here and hold the fort."
Shangyuan Zi’s pupils contracted. "Is it her?"
"It’s possible. A Shadow I placed in a warehouse district found her," Guan Tong said. "If I’m not mistaken, she’s there looking for clean food... Perfect. We’ve been stuck in Yunhua looking for her for far too long!"