Chapter 363 - 364: Onstage Debate 2

Chapter 363: Chapter 364: Onstage Debate 2

"Of course it is! Are they hiding it to make it easier for the rich to escape? Is it discrimination against the lower classes? Should we continue to trust a government so full of lies?"

Vikas spoke with righteous indignation, and some applause broke out in the studio.

Dr. Rini only now put his glasses back on.

"Then let’s continue with this hypothesis. If the world were ending, what would be the result of a direct public announcement?"

"Are you going to say that a public announcement would cause global chaos?"

Vikas retorted sarcastically. He was about to build on this point with further ridicule, but Dr. Rini glared at him through his glasses. Vikas felt a sudden jolt in his chest and instinctively shut his mouth.

"No. In fact, it wouldn’t cause global chaos."

This stunned Vikas for a moment, and presumably the studio audience and viewers at home as well. At least, that was the case for Lilika and her mother.

’Isn’t he contradicting himself?’

Rini smiled and continued.

"But the probability increases exponentially over time. Let me tell you what would happen."

"Once the government officially announces the end is nigh, the financial markets would be the first to collapse in the short term. Capital is far quicker to react when it comes to hedging against risk than anything else. If any of you have bought stocks, you’ll understand what I’m talking about."

Laughter came from the audience. The host also forced a smile; he was probably deep in the red.

"Then, during this period, the public would be caught between belief and disbelief. But because the economic collapse directly impacts their lives, daily necessities would start becoming scarce due to the economic environment and hoarding. The apocalyptic atmosphere would gradually intensify."

"You can imagine a situation where 20 USD might not even be enough to buy a single loaf of bread."

"This period can be called the ’reaction phase’!"

Rini pushed up his glasses and continued.

"After the reaction phase, forced by the very real impact on their lives, their fear would deepen further. People would begin to believe en masse that the world is ending. During this period, public trust and expectations of the government would be unprecedented. The financial system would be impossible to recover, but there might be a temporary surge in productivity."

"You can all look to the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack and the early-to-mid Cold War period for reference."

The expert’s every word was on point, backed by historical references that gave one pause for thought.

"However, humans are not always the most resilient of creatures. After a while, a societal crisis would begin. Incendiary incidents would spring up like mushrooms after a rain. Amid the anxiety, underlying problems and emotions would start to fester and then erupt."

"Because the end of the world hasn’t arrived after some time, you’d get sick of this life. You’d miss the old days, resent the government, and grow tired of rationing and production quotas. Violent, cathartic riots—looting, vandalism, and the like—would skyrocket during this period."

"It would no longer be safe for your children to go to school. A single trip to the supermarket could cost you your life. At the same time, with some people still in a risk-averse panic, scrambling for supplies would be commonplace. So you might not even be able to buy dinner for today, tomorrow, or the day after!"

The studio shown on TV had gradually fallen silent, but Rini was still going.

"The police force would face a considerable test. Being a police officer would become the most dangerous profession, facing manpower shortages or resignations and strikes. After that, crime would likely become difficult to control."

Rini didn’t give the audience time to feel fear or to think.

"After that, the conventional system of order would face collapse. Social chaos and stagnant production would lead to strained or severed food and supply lines. A safe social environment would cease to exist. Law-abiding, honest people would either have to change or suffer the consequences."

Vikas wanted to say something, but he glanced at the studio audience and the host and chose not to interrupt.

"Then, terrorism would sprout and escalate. All sorts of inflammatory rhetoric and opinions would erupt, various groups would form, and they would all turn their sights on the government."

At this, Rini smiled and looked at Vikas.

"Mr. Vikas, this is your area of expertise. I believe that when the time comes, you will definitely be among that crowd!"

"You!!"

"Don’t get excited. It was just a joke!"

Rini continued.

"Those groups and terrorists would want to preemptively seize doomsday shelters or similar places. They would coerce large numbers of people and begin the ultimate act of self-destruction—that is, to overthrow the keepers of order."

Rini paused and looked at Vikas again.

"Yes, the very same incompetent, foolish government that you said should be brought down!"

"What if, during the interim—at the moment the populace grows weary, at the beginning of the social unrest—authoritarian control were implemented? Could that prevent the emergence of terrorist groups that coerce and bully honest people?"

"No. That would just skip a few steps and turn the public’s animosity directly on the government. Refer back to that ultimate act of self-destruction I mentioned!"

The smile on Rini’s face at this moment was somewhat cold.

"Following that, there are two possible outcomes. First, the attempt to overthrow the government fails, and society is dealt a devastating blow. Second, the overthrow succeeds, and a chaotic situation resembling warlord-era factionalism unfolds amidst the pandemonium."

"It shouldn’t be hard for anyone to imagine that kind of situation!"

This was already terrible, but Rini clearly wasn’t finished with the worst-case scenario.

"But has everyone forgotten something?"

Rini had been narrating this whole time; the sudden question stunned everyone.

"Our hypothesis is based on the end of the world, right? Otherwise, none of the things I just described would happen!"

In the hearts of the studio audience, and even in Lilika’s as she watched on TV, a terrifying feeling began to grow.

"So the result is, amidst this chaos, the real doomsday crisis... arrives! And everyone is screwed!"

"Unless, after the government announces the end of the world, the apocalypse itself cooperates and arrives at the perfect, critical moment. Otherwise, this is the result!"

"So, assuming there really is an apocalypse coming, as long as the situation is still controllable, and as long as the government isn’t run by a bunch of morons, they would never choose to make it public."

Letting the audience sit in silence for a moment, Rini looked at Vikas.

"Mr. Vikas, are you satisfied with my answer?"

A few seconds later, the studio, including the host, erupted in continuous applause.

Afterward, Rini continued with this hypothesis, explaining the appropriate time for a public announcement. It would best be timed to the confirmation of doomsday’s arrival, or when it could be accurately predicted with a precise lead time, in order to harness humanity’s cohesive power at its peak.

...

In front of the TV, Lilika’s mother also clapped her hands.

"Well done! I was so sick of that Vikas!"

’That’s my mother for you.’

Lilika complained to herself.

Suddenly, her face felt itchy.

SMACK.

She slapped herself in the face, but while her face stung, the target had escaped.

"So itchy! Why is this mosquito so big?"

Lilika saw the mosquito flying away—it was as big as a knuckle. She recalled seeing some news a while back about giant post-disaster mosquitoes somewhere in the United States, but she never expected to see one in her own home.

"This damn mosquito, this damn mosquito!! Dammit!!"

The high-definition home security camera in the upstairs hallway recorded the scene.

It captured the movement of Lilika’s lips opening and closing, and also captured a large mosquito in the hallway, twitching a few times in mid-air before falling to the floor.

PS: Saturday’s first Chapter.