Swish.

The cloth strip was pulled off, and Wang Yan adjusted to the transition from darkness to light.

She found herself in a windowless room, unable to see the outside situation.

A man wearing a mask stood in the corner of the room, silently watching her.

Wang Yan recalled that about ten minutes ago, on her way to work at the Police Department, she received a phone call telling her that right now was the time for her to meet her daughter, Chen Na.

Then, without giving her any preparation time, a car appeared and took her away. The car had a partition and completely blacked-out glass; she couldn't see outside and didn't know where it was going.

After arriving at the destination, her eyes were also blindfolded, and she was led into a room somewhere unknown.

She glanced down at the miniature camera she had been wearing pinned to her collar and was surprised to find it was already gone, clearly discovered and removed.

Who exactly are these people...

"Creak."

The door opened. Wang Yan turned her head, and her eyes instantly grew hot upon seeing the person who entered. She rushed over and hugged her daughter.

"Nana!"

"Mom..."

Mother and daughter, not having seen each other for over a month, both shed tears.

Wang Yan wiped her daughter's tears and stroked her hair, asking with concern, "Nana, where have you been all this time? Did that organization hurt you? Your hair..."

Chen Na now had a neat, ear-length bob cut, looking somewhat like the short-haired woman who had come for them initially.

"Mom... I can't talk about the organization during this time... Is your illness better?"

Wang Yan was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "It's better. After taking that pill, I went to the hospital and found the cancer cells had disappeared."

"That's great..." Hearing this, Chen Na revealed a joyful smile.

"Nana, Mom knows you traded with that organization for this, right? Tell Mom, what exactly do they want you to do?"

Chen Na shook her head. "I really can't say, otherwise... I need to help with some things. I think this is only right, after all, they really gave such a precious medicine that cured your illness, Mom..."

"......"

Wang Yan was momentarily speechless. She couldn't refute it because that was the truth.

Without that medicinal item, she probably wouldn't be here anymore. Because back then, after the hospital examination, the doctor clearly told her she only had one or two months left.

Chen Na said, "Mom, don't worry about me, I..." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

At that moment, the door opened, and the short-haired woman walked in. "Chen Na, time is almost up. You know, you were only allowed to meet, not to have a long talk."

Chen Na nodded reluctantly.

Seeing the short-haired woman, Wang Yan immediately stepped forward to question her. "Who exactly are you people? Why are you making a deal with a child, what exactly do you want?!"

The short-haired woman said calmly, "Don't get excited, Ms. Wang. From beginning to end, we have never forced your daughter to do anything. She voluntarily joined us in exchange for the life-saving medicine for you, Ms. Wang... You should be happy to have a daughter who loves you so much."

"You!" Wang Yan's chest heaved violently with anger. Of course she was moved that her daughter was willing to sacrifice for her, but as a mother, how could she accept her daughter being in an unknown organization, doing who knows what dangerous things.

"Mom, it's okay... I really did volunteer." Chen Na stepped forward. "I'll apply to see you again later. We both need to live well!"

"Nana..."

Wang Yan looked at her daughter, feeling that in just over a month, her daughter seemed to have matured quite a bit in her mindset. The old her would never have said such things.

"Alright, Chen Na, we're already way over time." After the short-haired woman spoke, Chen Na nodded, hugged Wang Yan once, then turned and walked out.

Wang Yan wanted to grab her but was stopped by the short-haired woman.

After Chen Na left, the short-haired woman said, "Ms. Wang, we know you joined the Police Department, and we know you want to investigate us. But let me give you some advice, for your own sake and for your daughter's, don't do these unnecessary things anymore."

Wang Yan glared at the short-haired woman. "When will you let her go?"

"That's not for me to decide. And perhaps you haven't thought it through carefully, Ms. Wang, but your daughter's survival rate with us is actually higher than if she were with you... because we have ample resources to invest and help her survive the rules. What resources could she get by following you?"

Hearing this, Wang Yan was taken aback.

"That's all for today. One more reminder before you leave: if you, Ms. Wang, can live a stable life and not do unnecessary things, the organization will allow your daughter to meet you again later. But if you insist on opposing us, then the next time she applies, it won't be approved. Take care."

After the short-haired woman left, Wang Yan stood there dazed for a few minutes before leaving the room.

Going downstairs, she discovered they were still somewhere in the downtown center, with many people strolling around leisurely.

Right...

It's a non-rule period now. During non-rule periods, the shelters all open up. People who've been cooped up for a month all come out. Even though there's not much to do outside with all the large-scale demolition and construction, after being confined for so long, even just coming out for a casual walk feels good.

That organization was also using this period, arranging meetings under the cover of large crowds, so they wouldn't be noticed.

"Nana..."

Thinking of the short-haired woman's words and what her daughter said before leaving, Wang Yan could only resolve to live well.

Only by continuing to live could there be a day when she reunites with her daughter.

...

December 29th, only one day left before the release of the eighth Doomsday Rule.

Guan Tong sat in front of the computer, looking at the lengthy new announcement posted by the official account.

The announcement was mainly divided into two categories of matters.

The first category was the official decision to disclose some non-core confidential data to the national populace.

This data was collected from various regions, aggregated at the Countermeasures Research Office, and then analyzed by specialized Data Officers and analysts who produced reports.

Previously, the aggregated data was only circulated internally, but starting next year, January 2041, this data would be regularly made public for the general public to view.

Furthermore, the authorities would also establish dedicated channels for collecting suggestions and opinions, divided into online and offline shelter channels.

Good suggestions would be adopted and rewarded.

The second category of matters was that the authorities were beginning to encourage the private sector to develop tertiary industries.

Since the Doomsday Rules descended several months ago, major countries worldwide had concentrated their efforts on developing primary industries (agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishing) and secondary industries (mining, manufacturing, construction).

Faced with apocalyptic disasters, humanity's first priority was ensuring food, drink, and survival, so a large number of factories had shifted to primarily producing consumables.

In Beixing Country, due to the official decision to construct a large number of professional-grade shelters in major cities, the secondary industry had also developed rapidly.

But the tertiary industry (services such as transportation, finance, education, information, scientific research, entertainment) could be said to have suffered a devastating blow.

The first to be hit was the complete collapse of the financial system. Currencies of various countries became worthless paper, with only gold retaining some value.

Education was also affected, with classes suspended from elementary school to university, and many schools even demolished and converted into shelters.

Scientific research similarly faced a major collapse. The reason the situation of "vigorously developing technology to resist the apocalypse" didn't emerge was due to the terrifying dimensional reduction strike by the Fire Thief.

Not to mention anything else, just a random item from a "Bronze-level Survival Treasure Chest" might have effects that completely violate physical laws humans consider ironclad and unbreakable.

This led to the complete shattering of many scientists' beliefs. Even the most brilliant scientists absolutely did not believe that with humanity's current technological level, they could achieve even a fraction of the power the Fire Thief could wield within a hundred years.

So is there still a need for scientific research to develop? Many people had this question.

This was also why, right at the beginning of the Doomsday Rules, many called for all of humanity to return to a pastoral life. It's just that since most modern humans couldn't accept living without electricity, very few responded to such calls.

As for entertainment, at the beginning of the Doomsday Rules era, the entertainment industry experienced a brief period of prosperity, but it was soon plunged into the abyss as well.

Even if people could all stay home playing games and watching movies. With no one to maintain and make games, no one to film new movies, it became a stagnant pool. Now, several months later, no one mentioned the initial "nationwide fun play" anymore.

Now the authorities were beginning to encourage people with relevant talents to continue developing these things. If done well, the authorities would give rewards like Ascension Coins.

The reason for doing this was also explained by the authorities. It wasn't about self-anesthetizing with entertainment amidst this crisis, but about allowing people to have joy and purpose beyond mere survival. If humans lived only for survival, they would eventually lose hope and develop extreme mentalities.

After reading the two items in the official announcement, Guan Tong thought both were quite good.

Publicizing statistical data would allow ordinary people, like decision-makers, to have the opportunity to think from a macro perspective.

Three cobblers equal one Zhuge Liang. A few people getting together can refresh an "idea king." Who knows if there are people among the populace comparable to think tank strategists? It's just that without access to data, such talents had no opportunity to shine. Now, a stage was being provided for such people.

If they could truly analyze the situation based on the public data, come up with some good ideas, and submit them through the channels, there was a possibility of adoption. It could be considered opening up channels for suggestions and pooling collective wisdom.

As for using Ascension Coins as rewards to encourage talented people to develop tertiary industries, he also saw it as a good move.

Just as the announcement said, humans aren't animals. If they only pursue survival, they'll eventually become psychologically twisted.

Not to mention others, even Guan Tong's own mental state wasn't great recently. Fortunately, he lived on a mountain and slowly adjusted with the help of the fresh, tranquil environment.

"It seems the recent two survival-type rules have caused quite significant psychological problems for people, forcing the authorities to adopt some relaxing methods..."

Guan Tong thought back to several months ago, on the last day of the first rule, many people had taken to the streets causing trouble. The situation several months later would naturally become increasingly severe.

The sixth rule, the Blood Plague rule, was a major outbreak. A large number of people didn't die from the rule itself but from conflicts between people.

After the rule ended, people began moving into shelters. While enjoying the benefits of being enclosed, they also developed many psychological problems due to the confinement... As for the vast world outside the cities, it had been turned into a jungle society by survivors and thugs, with much mutual harm...

Where humanity should go from here, no one knew. But at least the action taken by the authorities this time received widespread recognition from both inside and out.

And it was amidst this change that the eighth Doomsday Rule arrived as scheduled.