Could there really be a third Awakened One?
Guan Tong was highly doubtful.
He himself had only managed to enter the Awakened level thanks to possessing the Wordless Book, plus numerous fortunate encounters that aided his progress.
As for Shi Jingyi, she possessed top-tier talent, coupled with a single-minded focus on cultivation, and was further empowered by the long-term, continuous faith power provided by countless students, allowing her to awaken shortly after Guan Tong.
With such demanding requirements, could a third person really achieve this?
While he couldn't rule out that other Ascendants might have their own fortunate encounters granting them extraordinary advancement, Guan Tong still doubted the authenticity of this matter.
Black Star guessed Guan Tong's thoughts: "Is the Troupe Leader thinking that Awakened One might be a fake?"
"I do have some doubts," Guan Tong said. "Awakening isn't that simple. It's not just about meeting the Mind Power threshold; the process of awakening one's Authority isn't easy either."
One had to know that someone with top-tier talent like Shi Jingyi had needed over twenty days of secluded meditation before finally awakening her Authority and completing her Awakening.
White Star looked puzzled: "If the client boss is a fake, then why tell such a lie? Black Star, what exactly was the commission that client gave you?"
Guan Tong was also quite curious upon hearing this.
Client privacy was important, but in front of White Star and Guan Tong, Black Star naturally wouldn't hold anything back.
"The person who discussed the commission with me was an agent. He said their boss's commission was for us to do publicity in Xisiya's underground world.
The publicity was divided into two phases. The first phase was to spread the information itself that 'the client boss is an Awakened One.' The second phase was that they would inform us of the specific name of the publicity target a few days later."
White Star and Guan Tong exchanged a glance after hearing this.
"Troupe Leader, now I also think that guy is a fake."
"That's right. If he were a genuine Awakened One, why would he go out of his way to publicize it? Hiding his identity would be the safest option."
Black Star then said thoughtfully, "Unless his goal is to make the public believe he's an Awakened One, and then profit off that identity."
Guan Tong thought for a moment and said, "Is that agent who discussed the commission with you still around?"
"He left right after we finished talking, but if he didn't use a teleportation-type item, he probably hasn't gotten far. Does the Troupe Leader want to investigate this matter?"
"Whether that Awakened One is real or fake, it has nothing to do with me originally. But this kind of deliberate, pre-planned publicity is definitely preliminary preparation for some scheme... I think this person isn't just targeting Xisiya, but will issue similar commissions in various countries, using cross-publicity to make his identity more credible."
...Could it be that guy's handiwork?
Han Qiu's figure suddenly surfaced in Guan Tong's mind.
He knew Han Qiu liked to use this kind of method to operate, having played identity games from Beixing all the way to Xisiya.
Back in Beixing, he had used his Young Academician status to infiltrate the Countermeasures Research Office and steal a massive amount of classified intelligence.
After defecting to Suroma, he used his researcher identity as cover to pursue and marry Yishan, with one of his goals being to obtain the identity of "the King's son-in-law."
At that time, everyone thought Gaelid was dead. Bruce had no son. If anything happened to him, Han Qiu, as his son-in-law, would very likely be able to seize power in Suroma through meticulous maneuvering.
Of course, that plan ultimately ended in failure. Bruce didn't die at the wedding venue, and Gaelid was still "alive."
As for Zhao Ming, he had been quiet recently with no new developments, and no one knew where he was lying low.
The fact that he could secretly connect with Zhou Qinfeng relied on the identity he'd had when working for Jiang Lanying.
Guan Tong couldn't let Han Qiu go, he just hadn't had any leads. But this mysterious client's "identity publicity" commission to the Twin Stars Bar made him pick up on a clue.
If that mysterious client was Han Qiu, he definitely wouldn't know that the Twin Stars Bar had connections to Guan Tong behind the scenes, otherwise he wouldn't have taken the risk.
"Black Star, tell me the agent's physical characteristics."
As Guan Tong spoke, several shadow lines emerged from beneath his feet, spreading out from the bar toward every direction.
If that "client" really was Han Qiu, then the agent who came to discuss the commission with Black Star might be a breakthrough point.
...
Countermeasures Research Office, Memory Digitization Department.
At noon, Zhang Minglu had just finished his current workload. Skipping lunch, he rushed over here to check on the progress.
He found the department head, and the results the latter gave him were far from optimistic.
"Dr. Zhang, we've conducted detailed examinations multiple times here, and the results... are very bad."
"What do you mean?"
"This girl's brain is far too chaotic. A significant portion of the two people's memories are mixed together. Separating out either person's memories alone is impossible.
...At least with our current technology, it can't be done. And we believe even Heisen from Suroma wouldn't be able to do it either."
Zhang Minglu frowned deeply: "What if we don't separate them, but instead directly eliminate Gaelid's consciousness?"
The department head shook his head: "Either we won't eliminate it completely, or both consciousnesses will die together."
"How could it come to this?"
"Our preliminary assessment is that Bruce did this intentionally, with the goal of binding the two consciousnesses tightly together, so that they live together and die together."
...
Zhang Minglu fell silent for a moment, still puzzled: "By doing this, isn't Bruce afraid that one day Ai Ya's consciousness will take over the body instead?"
"This is precisely where Suroma's memory technology excels," the department head said in a grave tone. "That old man Heisen is truly skilled. He can adjust and control things through various means, keeping Ai Ya's primary consciousness in a long-term dormant state, allowing Gaelid to maintain control of the body at all times."
"Can't we currently use similar methods to keep Gaelid's primary consciousness in long-term dormancy?"
The department head shook his head: "Our technology is somewhat inferior. We can't do it yet."
"Sigh..."
Zhang Minglu let out a sigh.
At this rate, it would be difficult to explain things to Guan Tong.
"If only we could get our hands on Suroma's core technology in this area. Otherwise, relying solely on our own efforts, it would probably take a long time to make a breakthrough."
Get Suroma's core technology.
Zhang Minglu secretly shook his head. Such a thing was easier said than done.
Bruce was willing to temporarily shelve his space program and pour the nation's resources into memory digitization research. Of course, he would spare no effort in protecting the research results.
"But there's still one issue now," the department head said. "When Gaelid is conscious, he demands that we let him leave. Although his speech and logic can sometimes be strange, there does seem to be a possibility of communication..."
Zhang Minglu asked in response: "Are you suggesting we send psychology experts from the base to attempt to turn him?"
"Yes."
"That will probably be very difficult. I estimate that guy has long since been brainwashed by Bruce... but I'll help convey your suggestion to Head Gao."
"Speaking of which, Dr. Zhang, has Head Gao decided how to handle this current rule?"
Zhang Minglu gave a bitter smile and shook his head: "No. This rule hasn't just caused fierce arguments online. I heard that even the members of the highest decision-making layer have shown major disagreements for the first time, so they can't come to a decision for now."
The memory department head sighed upon hearing this: "To open or to close, this really is a big problem that has never changed since ancient times..."
Zhang Minglu had nothing to say.
After leaving the memory research department, he saw his protégé Zhao Ming waiting for him at the door holding a tablet.
"Zhao Ming, what's the matter?"
"Doctor, take a look at this."
Zhao Ming handed over the tablet. Zhang Minglu took it and saw that the webpage was flooded with a massive amount of comments calling out Guan Tong by name.
"Guan Tong must be that Awakened One. As the person who caused this rule to appear, shouldn't he step forward and make a statement?"
"Strongly demanding that Guan Tong publicly clarify whether he will use the query authority! This matter concerns the fate of everyone on Tianshui Star. He can't just decide it all by himself!"
"The authorities have an obligation to bring Guan Tong out to explain the situation! The public has the right to know and needs more information about 'Awakened Ones' and 'Authority.'"
There were so many comments that flipping through several pages still wouldn't reach the end. The content was largely the same, all targeting Guan Tong and demanding he provide an explanation.
Guan Tong had never publicly claimed to be an Awakened One, yet these comments had already decided he was, speaking with such certainty as if they were declaring established fact.
Moreover, each of these comments had at least tens of thousands of likes, with the highest surpassing a hundred thousand. Zhang Minglu's scalp went numb just looking at them.
He handed the tablet back, and Zhao Ming took it before saying:
"Doctor, the online public opinion exploded all at once within a single hour. People generally believe that Guan Tong is the Awakened One who triggered the rule, demanding he quickly state whether he will use the query authority to access the Star Sea Court database.
Even quite a few Ascendants at the base have been influenced, hoping you'll quickly get in touch with Guan Tong to ask what the prerequisites for becoming an Awakened One are."
Zhang Minglu's expression turned unpleasant. It was obvious he felt something was wrong with this.
"Zhao Ming, do you think this is a good thing?"
"Of course not," Zhao Ming said flatly. "Someone like Guan Tong won't be swayed by public opinion. But the more he refuses to respond, the greater the public's resentment toward him will grow."
After saying this, Zhao Ming added another remark: "Doctor, judging by the timing and the content and volume of these comments, I think there's clearly a force behind this public opinion."
"Mm, it's most likely Suroma's doing. Alright, I'll go talk to the Ascendants at the base first. Zhao Ming, you go find Silver Fox and explain the situation to her, have her try to talk to Guan Tong."
"Doctor, isn't Chen Na the one at the base with the closest relationship to Guan Tong? Why not ask her?"
Zhang Minglu was silent for a moment at this question, then finally let out a sigh: "Chen Na is a good kid, but she doesn't put the interests of the research office and the authorities first. Instead, she puts... like last time with Zhou Qinfeng's matter..."
He didn't finish his sentence, skipping past the topic: "Forget it, I won't say more about the rest. Hurry and go find Silver Fox."
With that, Zhang Minglu hurried away. Zhao Ming watched his retreating figure, completing the unfinished sentence in his mind.
"...Instead, she puts Guan Tong's interests above everything else."
Zhao Ming knew that Chen Na had already lost Head Gao's trust. After Duanmu Feng's death, the situation would likely become even more serious. After all, it was only human nature to shift blame.