Chapter 73

Chapter 73

The Judicator was confined within the Lighthouse, but the uprising did not end with a mutual compromise; instead, it escalated.

People ceased their work to protest the base, staging a collective demonstration at the entrance of the artificial magnetic pole facility.

Rumors, though unconfirmed, infuriated the base's decision-makers. However, amidst the chaos, they no longer had absolute control. They eventually made a significant concession - temporarily suspending the Judicator's authority to kill. The Judicator's team continued their patrols, but instead of executing suspected infected individuals on sight, they were to be detained and isolated in a military training camp at the other end of the base for observation. Furthermore, the Judicator himself was disarmed and remained in the Lighthouse laboratory to assist with research, forbidden from leaving - it was unclear whether this was for his protection or as a precaution against him.

The tension in the base finally eased, as the main target of the unrest was none other than Lu Feng himself. As the current Judicator, Colonel Lu's authoritarianism and bloodlust were unparalleled, with approximately four thousand five hundred of the five thousand annual executions carried out by his own hand. The remaining five hundred were executed by other judges only because the Judicator was unavoidably absent from the court.

After a brief lull, people began criticizing the Lighthouse for its lack of substantial progress over the days. Dr. Jibril, who oversaw the project, was an old friend of Lu Feng's. The label "the last hope of humanity" seemed to be a deceptive lie, a one-sided cover-up. They demanded that the Lighthouse produce convincing results or surrender Lu Feng.

"They can justify any action under the pretense that humanity cannot afford to lose even a single life," the doctor poured himself a glass of water. "Their arguments are riddled with inconsistencies, but it's their only means of venting their fear."

As he spoke, he brought the glass to his lips, but his hand trembled, causing water to spill onto the table. He managed a sip, but immediately contorted in agony, bending over and retching repeatedly.

"I'm living in immense... immense fear too. I want to vomit," he stammered. "The cold snap has arrived, and winter is coming. It's the monsters' most frenzied and nutrient-hungry time."

"We all know that humans are nothing but juicy, oily prey to the monsters. Even during the base's heyday, they constantly attempted attacks. You know...," the doctor smiled wryly and whispered, "When will they realize how vulnerable human bases have become? When will they unite to overrun us... just like they once swarmed the underground city base?"

Lu Fen said, "Calm down first."

"You think everyone lacks emotions like you? The essence of humanity lies in empathy. Panic spreads exponentially through crowds. Your ability to remain calm in such times only proves how...how terrifyingly detached you are." The doctor took a few deep breaths; harsh words sometimes served as an emotional release. He seemed to have recovered slightly. "Please, infect me with your trait. When you can't continue working, what do you think about?"

Lu Fen looked at him indifferently. "Human interests come above all else."

The doctor laughed helplessly.

After his laughter subsided, he took a deep breath and seemed to have finally calmed down. He approached the large petri dish containing the spores.

"The idea that a tiny white fungus could save all of humanity is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. In truth, its composition is no different from what we use to make mushroom soup." The doctor repeated the outsiders' words with perfect enunciation, like a stern teacher scolding a failing student. "Did you hear that? If this continues, they'll eventually boil you into a mushroom soup. You have to actively show them your uniqueness."

The snowy white mycelium trembled in the nutrient solution, and the spore drifted slowly towards Lu Fen. It adhered closely to the glass wall as if trying to get closer to him.

Lu Fen whispered, "Don't scare it."

"It understands, I bet it does. We've fed it extracts from countless monsters these past few days, and it's eaten them all. An Zhe is a polymorphic mutant monster. His spores must be the same," the doctor said. "If it doesn't have its own consciousness or intelligence, it wouldn't escape every night just to sleep with you."

"So, any progress?" Lu Fen furrowed his brow slightly.

"It consumed so many monster genes, but it's still that spore. It's in an absolute stable state. That gene extract didn't vanish; I suspect it can consciously control its transformation, just like An Zhe can turn into a human." The doctor said, "If humans also possess this trait, we wouldn't fear mutation."

"Y'all want to infect humans with it," Lu Fen said. "Aren't you afraid that the infected would be taken over by the mushroom's consciousness?"

"At the moment, we're not at the stage of considering that problem," the doctor pressed his forehead against the glass. "The crucial point is that this damn little thing doesn't infect others. It's as disappointing as An Zhe."

As he spoke, the spore had already floated up to the surface of the nutrient solution on its own accord, climbing slowly upwards before slipping through the gap between the lid and the main body of the petri dish. It then fell freely, caught by Lu Fen's hand. It lazily sprawled across Lu Fen's palm, like a carefree... little one.

Its behavior indicated that it was indeed a conscious life form.

"It can move and think, yet it doesn't even have a nervous system," the doctor said. "Do you know what this means? As a biologist, the phenomenon of mutation has shattered physicists' understanding. This spore's existence has obliterated mine."

The Judge had no interest nor need to concern itself with how a biologist's perception was destroyed. Holding the soft cluster of mycelium in his hand, Lu Fen asked, "How did An Zhe disappoint you?"

"He doesn't have any notable infectious properties either," the doctor perked up, sighing. "Your... relationship—after sleeping together, you're still a human with no signs of infection. Your will hasn't been influenced by him to become kinder in the slightest. He's just as unable to infect others as his spore."

Looking at him indifferently, Lu Fen seemed to be pondering something. Just as Doctor Ji thought he was about to say something valuable, the colonel spoke up, "I haven't slept with him."

The doctor stared at him intently. "Then you disappoint me even more than An Zhe does."