Chapter 585 - 575: Noise Pollution 27

Ever since confirming their identities as aliens, Barry Wallace had been in a state of overexcitement. It took him quite a while to finally calm down.

"You said your planet is also going through an apocalypse. Does that mean people there have Noise Sickness too? Have you developed an effective treatment?"

To Barry Wallace, the fact that these two alien visitors could so easily travel to his planet meant their own world’s technology was surely far more advanced.

Besides, even though they claimed to have survived an apocalypse, neither of them looked the least bit worn-down. They even said they had found a solution, so perhaps they had a cure for Noise Sickness.

As for whether he doubted their story, to be perfectly honest, he certainly did.

They were aliens, after all. He couldn’t just listen to what they said and accept every single word as fact.

But it wasn’t as if he was in any position to object. Even if he had doubts, he couldn’t voice them.

"Unfortunately, the apocalypse we experienced was caused by natural disasters. It’s different from what’s happening on your planet," Moira Lynch said, shaking her head regretfully.

Although he had expected that answer, a flash of disappointment still crossed Barry Wallace’s face.

"Can I ask how you saved your own planet, then?" Barry Wallace pressed, unwilling to give up.

Even if the apocalypses were different, it couldn’t hurt to learn from someone else’s success.

"In the beginning, we just had to tough it out. Later, we found a habitable planet and moved some of our population over. We haven’t given up on our original home, though."

Barry Wallace was dumbfounded. He had never imagined their so-called solution would be something like that.

He thought it would be like in the movies, where the heroes endure countless trials to follow a single clue, find the root cause of the apocalypse, and then destroy it completely.

"Is our planet really hopeless, then?" Barry Wallace murmured, staring blankly at the scene outside.

Through the car window, he watched the people passing by, every one of them looking crazed and delirious.

They were looking all around, as if searching for something.

"You never know. We were just as lost when our apocalypse first started, but..."

Just as Moira Lynch was about to mention the System, a cold voice suddenly rang in her mind.

[A System has not yet descended upon this planet. Players are forbidden from revealing the existence of the System. Violators will be immediately obliterated.]

’Are you kidding me? I already revealed that I’m an alien and that I’m here on a survival mission, and the Cosmic Consciousness didn’t pop up to stop me then.’

’But the second I’m about to mention the System, it decides to step in.’

Moira Lynch cursed internally.

’Forget it. When you’re under someone else’s thumb, you have to bow your head. If I can’t talk about it, then I won’t.’

’Just for the record, it’s not that I don’t want to be honest with our benefactor. The Cosmic Consciousness just won’t let me.’

"But what?" Barry Wallace asked anxiously when Moira Lynch’s voice suddenly trailed off.

"It’s nothing. I can’t talk about it right now. You’ll find out when the time is right. Just know that there’s always a way out."

After she said that, she refused to answer any more of Barry Wallace’s questions on the matter, no matter how much he pressed her.

Realizing he wasn’t going to get any more information out of Moira Lynch, Barry Wallace didn’t lose heart. He believed he would find out eventually.

"Right, you mentioned you two were here to complete a survival mission. What does that mean?"

"It’s exactly what it sounds like. We were sent here, and as long as we survive for a certain number of days, we can go home once the mission is complete," Moira Lynch explained.

But Barry Wallace seized on a key point. "What do you mean? You knew the apocalypse was coming? Then why didn’t you warn everyone beforehand?"

As he spoke, Barry Wallace’s tone was laced with anger.

Just then, Hugh Finch, who had been silent, spoke up coldly. "And what if we had? No one would have believed us. Haven’t there been doomsday rumors on your planet before? How many people actually believed them?"

"If we had actually tried to publicize it, we would’ve just been dismissed as lunatics."

Barry Wallace realized Hugh Finch was right. After all, rumors about the end of the world had been circulating for ages, some even specifying exact dates. People had gradually gotten used to them.

The believers would be convinced, while the non-believers would just scoff.

Still, he muttered under his breath, not ready to let it go. "Even so, you could have worked with the government. With their protection, wouldn’t you have been safer?"

Hearing this naive suggestion, Moira Lynch almost laughed out loud. "If we’d actually done that, the apocalypse wouldn’t have been the only thing we’d have to worry about."

Presented with two living, breathing aliens, what scientist could resist the temptation to slice us up for research?

This time, Barry Wallace fell completely silent.

"Where are we going?"

Noticing the unfamiliar surroundings, Barry Wallace asked, "My house isn’t this way."

"You know so many of our secrets. How could we possibly let you go back home?" Moira Lynch’s voice drifted over from beside him.

Hearing this, Barry Wallace’s heart sank, and a terrible premonition washed over him. "You’re... you’re not planning to kill me to keep me quiet, are you?"

Moira Lynch rolled her eyes. "Relax, we’re not that bloodthirsty. We’re just going to have you stick with us for a while to make sure you don’t spill our secrets. Besides, I think you’re safer with us. With your level of skill, you’re liable to end up as someone’s all-you-can-eat buffet."

Moira Lynch’s words reminded him of what had happened in the alley, and he shivered involuntarily.

"Okay, fine. I’ll go with you."

Hearing his agreement, the corners of Moira Lynch’s mouth turned up slightly. She glanced at Hugh Finch, who was focused on driving, with a look that seemed to say, ’See? I’m good at this.’

’Since this Barry Wallace is supposed to be our ’benefactor,’ it’s obviously better to keep him close.’

’Though I still have no idea what makes him so special. Even his awakened talent—the ability to split himself into countless pieces—doesn’t seem all that useful.’

"Um, could you do me a favor and take me home for a minute? I don’t want to leave, I just need to grab a few things," Barry Wallace said.

"What is it? Is it important?" Moira Lynch asked.

Barry Wallace nodded earnestly. "My senior thesis. I spent months on it and only just finished it yesterday."

Even though his advisor had sent it back for revisions this morning right after he submitted it, it was still his baby. It just needed a few changes, and it would be fine.