The miners were left behind to secure the stone coffin, while the others returned to the Government Center to hold a meeting in the conference room.
The conference room wasn't spacious and was slightly dilapidated, but it had an antique style. A solid wood long table was surrounded by high-backed chairs, with fresh flowers placed in the center.
It wasn't until they arrived here that Mr. Bai formally greeted Xiao Lin:
"Mr. Xiao Lin, nice to meet you. By the way, my full name is Bai Xiaoyun. They probably haven't mentioned it to you, have they?"
"They only call you Mr. Bai," Xiao Lin said, shaking his hand.
"Little Lan and the others say you're a good person. I really wanted to chat with you, but unfortunately, I'm afraid we don't have time for pleasantries right now," Bai Xiaoyun sighed, looking at the manuscript in his hand.
The nickname "Little Lan" made Xiao Lin want to laugh. He cast a light glance at the slightly embarrassed Lan Shiyu and said: "It's fine. Business comes first. So, what is the deal with that stone coffin? And who is Simon?"
Bai Xiaoyun's expression darkened slightly. He gestured for Xiao Lin to sit down before speaking: "In our Red Zone, there is a peculiar custom."
"When burying the dead, to prevent grave robbing, one must carve a quill pen imprint on the coffin. The quill pen imprint belongs to Simon."
"Why?" Xiao Lin asked.
"Because Simon brings disaster and death," Bai Xiaoyun said in a low voice. "He is a horror writer and a Fifth-Generation Transcendent. All the stories he writes end with the protagonist dying in despair.
"And when you see Simon's coffin, it means you are inside one of Simon's stories."
"Judging from the opening just now, he has narrated the entire Satellite Town into the story this time. That means he intends to..."
Bai Xiaoyun paused for a few seconds: "...destroy us."
When his words fell, the air seemed to stagnate for a moment. Even the sound of the wind outside the window felt distant.
Everyone in the conference room looked fearful and uneasy. Xiao Lin was also secretly surprised.
To slaughter an entire town with just a story? This ability was simply too insane.
"Mr. Bai, if we evacuate the Satellite Town, can we avoid this disaster?" Lan Shiyu asked.
"More than five thousand people. Where can we evacuate them to? And how do we accommodate them?" Bai Xiaoyun countered.
"We only accommodate some important people."
Bai Xiaoyun shook his head: "That can be a last resort, but we cannot decide to give up on the others from the very beginning.
"Moreover, evacuation is most likely useless. The story started the moment we saw the coffin. No matter what we do, it's all within the narrative. And the narrative is fate."
Lan Shiyu didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Why is he attacking you? Do you have a feud with him?" Xiao Lin asked curiously.
"We don't know each other, and we have no feud. However, as far as I know, Simon was invited to join the Philosopher's House a year ago. He is likely preparing to cross the Gate of Cognition."
Xiao Lin didn't bother with the few new terms he didn't understand. He just found it incredible.
No feud, no reason, yet he wanted to slaughter an entire town? More than five thousand people? Besides, he quite liked this town—peaceful, united, orderly. He also liked the people in it.
After a period of silence, Bai Xiaoyun spoke slowly again: "Right now, confronting Simon head-on is very unwise. The best method is negotiation."
"Then... I'll check online to see if I can find Simon's contact information," Niannian immediately volunteered.
"Hmm, I'll leave this matter to you. However, we also need to consider the possibility of negotiation failing," Bai Xiaoyun nodded and continued giving orders.
"Yan Jie, go contact those Grave Diggers in Madman's Howl recently. Replenish some weapons and ammunition, and see if you can find any support.
"Also, have the Enforcement Team strengthen patrols within the town and report any abnormalities immediately."
"Understood. I will complete the mission in the shortest time possible," Yan Jie responded immediately.
"Shiyu, go inform the major factions in town. Tell them about this. Those willing to stay are welcome; we won't force those who aren't.
"Remember to tell them that running away is largely meaningless."
"Understood," Lan Shiyu nodded seriously.
"That's all I can think of for now. Everyone start acting after the meeting ends," Bai Xiaoyun leaned back in his chair, looking somewhat tired.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose before shifting his attention back to Xiao Lin: "Mr. Xiao, I really apologize. I've been so busy since I arrived. I've neglected you."
Xiao Lin didn't mind at all: "It's fine. I don't have anything major either. I just have a few questions I'd like to ask."
"Questions? Do we need to find a private place?"
"No, a very simple question. I just want to know if a promotion system exists in this world."
Bai Xiaoyun didn't answer immediately. He sat there, a faint, ambiguous smile on his face: "Mr. Xiao Lin, how many days has it been since you came to this world?"
"About seven days or so," Xiao Lin answered truthfully.
"In just seven short days, your excavation of this world has progressed to this extent. Mr. Xiao, you really exceeded my expectations," Bai Xiaoyun said with a tone of emotion.
"So it does exist?"
"It doesn't exactly exist, but there is indeed a similar mechanism. Remember? Just now we mentioned that Simon attacking us is likely preparation for crossing the Gate of Cognition."
Xiao Lin immediately realized: "So, the Gate of Cognition is the promotion method? He is pursuing promotion?"
Bai Xiaoyun nodded: "That's right. I don't know if you've come into contact with the Nine Layers of Reality Theory?"
Xiao Lin shook his head.
"This is a very complex theory, but simply put, although our world is a unified whole, it is divided into nine layers in terms of reality dimensions.
"Most of us, like ordinary people, are located in the First Layer of Reality. In this layer, the world we contact and perceive is incomplete.
"And the only way to perceive a more complete world is to cross the Gate of Cognition and reach a higher level of reality.
"Only then will the remaining parts present themselves before you."
He glanced at Xiao Lin and then started gesturing with his hands: "Take a simple example. What the lower reality sees is a plain; the higher layer might be a mountain. The lower layer is the ocean; the higher layer might be a continent.
"The higher your reality layer, the more complete the world you see. Your transcendent power will also reach a new level due to the expansion of cognition."
This answer surprised Xiao Lin. He paused for a moment before asking: "What exactly is the so-called Gate of Cognition? An abstract concept or..."
"A real location. You can understand it as the intersection of two adjacent realities. However, most people don't choose to promote."
"Because it's dangerous?"
Bai Xiaoyun nodded: "Safe Gates of Cognition have long been under the control of major organizations. For example, the Philosopher's House that Simon joined—they have one.
"And the remaining uncontrolled Gates of Cognition are all extremely dangerous, with a nine-to-one chance of death. This is also why Simon suddenly wants to pursue promotion."
Xiao Lin sighed silently in his heart. The scramble and monopoly of resources really haven't changed in any era.
"Does Mr. Xiao have any other questions?" Bai Xiaoyun asked.
"Not for now."
"If you have other questions, feel free to ask me anytime. Then, today's meeting ends here."
"Oh, one more thing," Xiao Lin suddenly said. "Mr. Bai, when you negotiate with Simon, remember to notify me."
Bai Xiaoyun looked at him, his eyes calm and gentle: "That is of course something I would welcome, but I don't advise it, Mr. Xiao Lin. Simon is attacking this town; you are not included."
"If you go with us to negotiate, and the negotiation fails, you might make an enemy of him."
Xiao Lin smiled: "Don't worry. I'm just going to pad the numbers and help out a bit. I quite like this place, so I'll help where I can."
Bai Xiaoyun looked at Xiao Lin silently for a moment, then nodded: "Alright. I will notify you when the time comes."