"Intersection Point?" <br><br>Lucas listened to their conversation, feeling slightly startled, and asked, "How long will it take?" <br>Inside the channel, Sergeant Han Bing hesitated for a moment and replied, "We can't be sure yet." <br>Lucas understood the issue she was raising. <br>In the current High Wall City, especially in the Satellite City serving as the main city's buffer, the population was very complex. Many people might have entered High Wall City recently without obtaining permanent residence status, or might have sneaked in altogether. Not everyone’s identity could be quickly verified. Furthermore, public facilities like surveillance cameras weren’t widespread in the Satellite City. <br>This isn’t the main city. Except for important areas like the Administrative Hall and the Material Department, there were no surveillance cameras installed or they were already damaged. <br>Lucas had no doubt about the Special Action Group's efficiency and power. <br>But under such circumstances, trying to quickly investigate these people's routes in life and find intersection points was inherently troublesome. <br>So he hesitated for a moment and said, "Is there a faster way?" <br>After a slight pause, he explained, "After all, tomorrow will be the eighth day, and there’s a high possibility that someone else might get infected." <br>Listening to him, there was a moment of silence in the channel. <br>The three members of the investigation team also cast somewhat complicated looks at Lucas. <br>They understood Lucas’s concerns. <br>If judged by the pattern of those who sought revenge on Ryan Quinn, one person sought revenge on the first day, two on the second, four on the fourth, then tomorrow, there should be eight people seeking revenge on him. In fact, theoretically, by tonight at midnight, new "avengers" could appear. <br>This means there would be eight more innocent victims. <br>Such concerns were normal, but coming from Lucas, it was a little surprising. <br>"I agree with Lucas's perspective." <br>After a while, Jane Chen's voice was heard in the channel: "It's not about saving people or not. Our work has always been about saving people. Just by eliminating the pollution source, we save many people indirectly, which shouldn’t be the focus of our work." <br>"Our focus, and our highest priority goal, is always eliminating the pollution source." <br>"I agree with his opinion because efficiency is crucial in handling mental pollution sources." <br>"Thoroughly investigating the paths of those who were contaminated and comparing them would take too long." <br>"During this time, the pollution source could mutate in unforeseen ways..." <br>"...” <br>She paused briefly, then continued, "Based on the current data, since the contaminated 'avengers' all claimed to seek revenge on Ryan Quinn, and Charlie Wong was the first 'avenger,' this shows that Charlie Wong must be connected with the pollution source. Even if there was no obvious clue at his killing site or where the body was dumped, it cannot be ruled out that the actual pollution source might be nearby, and the possibility is significant." <br>"We assume the pollution source is in that region and then analyze it." <br>"The abandoned industrial area has no residents and very few people, so there’s no need to focus on where the intersection point is..." <br>"Focus should be placed on where nearby could more likely be an intersection point." <br>"...” <br>Hearing this, Lucas’s eyes slightly brightened. <br>Jane Chen's analysis was somewhat unexpected, but he liked her decisive approach. <br>“Yes!” <br>Sergeant Han Bing’s voice disappeared for a moment in the channel, followed by the sound of maps being unfolded, as if observing maps and data. A moment later, her voice was heard again: "There are about four places near the southern city’s abandoned industrial area that could potentially form an intersection point." <br>"First, the factory in the southwest direction, where about two hundred workers are employed. Usually, workers are transported by bus, but it cannot be excluded that some might walk home alone, possibly passing by the abandoned industrial area; secondly, about three kilometers west of the abandoned industrial area, there's a large garbage dump, often frequented by some vagrant children and beggars picking up trash there..." <br>"Additionally, according to data, some criminals might choose to conduct transactions in that region!" <br>"...” <br>Lucas instinctively glanced at Ryan Quinn. <br>Ryan Quinn, unable to hear the voices from the channel, was squatting by a side smoking, watched by Lucas with an inexplicable look. <br>At this time, Jane Chen had already made a decision: "Send these locations to the investigation team." <br>“Beep beep...” <br>Soon, a faint light appeared on the black screens on the arms of the three investigation team members. <br>Lucas leaned to see, noticing the intricate maps and symbols displayed on the screens. <br>After carefully distinguishing them, he recognized that it was indeed the map of the southern part of Satellite City No.2, marked with red points. <br>"Already sent?" <br>"Truly high-tech..." <br>He marveled to himself, "But the dean mentioned that before the Red Moon Incident, such technology was common?" <br>"Now you can proceed to check each location." <br>In the channel, Jane Chen’s voice echoed, as if she was explaining to Lucas, "Mental contamination seems disorderly and chaotic, but as long as it exists, there are certain patterns and characteristics. Once we deduce these patterns and characteristics, we can eliminate them with minimal cost. A professor once said that rationality is humanity’s only advantage in dealing with these crazy situations." <br>Lucas listened, deeply impressed, "Who is that professor?" <br>Jane Chen hesitated for a moment and said, “Your focus is misplaced.” <br>Lucas blushed and responded with an “Oh.” <br>… <br>"Move straight, then turn left." <br>The jeep drove slowly through the desolate factory area in the southern city. Night had already fallen, enveloping the surroundings in deep darkness. Only a red moon hung in the sky, casting its crimson light over the silent and chaotic city. <br>As the jeep’s lights pierced through the dark red night, illuminating the weeds and broken roads, Lucas and the others reached the southern city edge, near the high wall. In every High Wall City, the area closer to the wall was more desolate and sparsely populated. Apart from the guards of the City Patrol on watchtowers every three thousand meters, there were no other signs of life. <br>This was also the last location Lucas and his companions would inspect. <br>Contrary to his imagination, the investigation of contamination didn’t seem as thrilling as expected. It was actually a bit tedious. Each location required them to stop and carefully check with instruments, repeatedly confirming no issues before moving on to the next spot. <br>During inspections, everyone’s nerves were taut, only relaxing once back in the car. <br>Soon, the vehicle drove into the fourth suspicious location marked on the map. It was a partially constructed area, where some foundations had been laid long ago but now were overgrown with wild grass. <br>Inside the channel, Han Bing quietly explained: After the situation stabilized inside the High Wall City, there was a period of population boom. During that time, the administrative hall considered refurbishing this area into a mixed residential and industrial zone. Unfortunately, the Tech Order intervened, causing a significant population loss in Satellite City No.4 as people moved away, leaving this area abandoned. <br>In fact, the entire southern district of Satellite City No.2 was meant to be a reserve area for development. <br>It's said that the administrative hall’s biggest dream is to have more population to fill these areas. <br>… <br>As the jeep’s lights cut through the darkness ahead, they soon illuminated a glistening surface. <br>Lucas and the others got out, discovering a water pond. <br>Originally a large pit, the low terrain had collected rainwater, turning it into a sizable wild lake. Around the lake, the wild grass reached knee height, with a barely noticeable path stretching from the lakeside into the city. <br>The moment Lucas got out of the car, he sensed something unusual. <br>His sister, who had disappeared while he was in the car, now appeared by the lakeside. <br>She squatted amidst the grass, her eyes brightly fixated on the water. <br>Hearing Lucas alight, she suddenly turned her head and excitedly exclaimed, "Brother, there's something fun here!" <br>"Something fun?" <br>Lucas felt slightly uneasy and hurried over. <br>He knew his sister's sense of aesthetics differed from others, so what she considered fun...)
