Puzzle Madness

Chapter 48 Pillar
Richard's lips curled up into a smile - this was the first time since the three of them sat down to eat supper together:
"What you said—of course it's all false. That's the biggest difference between [representation] and public perception."

"Representation. While it depends on the specific situation, representation is generally uncontrollable and not very useful. Utilization is very low, and the proportion of truly practical applications is also very low; and most of it is very [personalized]."

"And it can be said that representation is very [harmful] - but this harm depends on your perspective. It is definitely harmful to oneself, but it may be valuable to others besides oneself or herself; or it may be like a walking torch, carrying oneself and others with it."

Doudou raised his hands and grabbed his head, shaking it vigorously:
"I'm so confused. How come it's almost like a lecture at school?"

Fear and worry had left the mathematician. He was entering into his most familiar way of communication, not even taking the energy to cater to Doudou:

"Then could you give me a case study? What you're saying now is too abstract—at least give me a more concrete example: a specific superpower, or what [representation] can do?"

Richard raised his index finger and moved it under his eyes:

"For example, my late partner could—he could make people cry: himself, of course."

The mathematician raised his brows when he heard the answer, obviously not satisfied with what he heard.

But Doudou, who had finally grasped an intuitive point, didn't give him a chance to question it and quickly jumped into the topic before him:

"Cry? What? Like in a really touching drama or something? My class went to see a movie, and the students kept crying, with snot tissues everywhere."

"Hey—wait a minute: your partner isn't that the smoking colleague I mentioned earlier? He can make people cry. Seriously! I can attest to that!"

Doudou raised his hands and gestured randomly on his cheeks, rubbing his eyes from time to time:
"Agent Li's colleague was dancing around with a gun, and I suddenly burst into tears!"

"Oh! So I didn't have a tear duct infection last time. I was so scared! You should have told me earlier! I almost went to the hospital."

The mathematician scoffed, his words filled with disdain. As he relaxed, his aggression naturally overflowed from his body:
"Crying? That's too unmysterious."

"I know a lot of people who can make someone cry: with their fists, their mouths, a word, whatever; they don't have any special powers."

Richard, who was rubbing his eyes, shook his head - this seemed to have brought back some unpleasant memories:

"His is different. In fact, the Asia-Europe Post's analysis department hasn't figured out whether he simply stimulates the tear glands through pheromones or if he enhances the empathy of everyone within a certain range, thereby transmitting his own sorrow."

"Maybe it's both? I can't figure it out. He's dead, anyway; I guess we'll never find out."

"Friend Doudou should know. That's the case I've been closest to, the one I've been involved with the longest, and the one I understand best—but there are other ways to help you understand this kind of thing, they're just more academic."

Doudou scratched his face, his eyes darting around in all directions—the speed of his spinning top looked a bit scary:

"Ah, I don't quite understand. Is there anything more detailed or specific?" "But--that was probably the first time I cried: it really felt like I peed in my eyes, hahaha. I didn't feel anything else."

"Old Li! Give me another example—this time. Do you have any more interesting cases?"

Richard put his palms in front of his face and rubbed them vigorously. As if he had finally waited for Doudou's words, his eyes lit up:

"Yes, I do. I know a very representative and interesting case, and it's well-known in the Asian and European postal system."

"There's a rough evaluation system within Asia-Europe Post: The Analysis Department will assess some [Fanatical] holders as [Pillar Level]. Do you know what that means?"

"This means that [pillar-level] fanatic holders can become the business pillars of certain commercial markets. For example..."

"In the list of the Southeast Asian branch of Asia-Europe Post, there is a pillar-level warrior with the highest strength: his code name is Neck Rider."

"Wherever he was, the entire city and surrounding areas, regardless of age or gender, were very, very susceptible to feeling heavy necks and cervical spine pain. They also had a higher incidence of frozen shoulder and cervical spondylosis, including him—I remember [the rider] was almost paralyzed for a while."

The mathematician subconsciously raised his hand and rubbed the back of his neck:
"Ahh? Then it's better not to have this kind of superpower!"

Richard waved his hands impatiently. His entire attention was focused on the case and Doudou.
"Doctor, please don't interrupt."

"[The neck rider] himself had no idea he was possessed by ecstasy or had any supernatural powers. He thought he was perfectly normal except for his incurable cervical spondylosis, and that he also had some mental issues. I'll discuss this later."

"Eurasia Post has never had direct contact with him: everyone is afraid that interaction might lead to a strengthening or weakening of representations—"

"The Southeast Asia branch has simply created a special protected area around the [Neck Rider]. Personal safety and other things go without saying. Three security teams are on duty around the clock; twenty-four plus seven."

"Everyone who could socialize with him went through background checks and screening to prevent him from experiencing any emotional distress, especially from improving his mood. The marketing department was directly responsible for the work environment, and several companies were established specifically to provide jobs for neck riders."

"The Southeast Asia branch even set up a department specifically for him, which is used to regularly guide [neck riders] to travel, relocate, or even immigrate to neighboring countries. Of course, before guiding them, they will first enter the local market:"

"Beibeijia, latex pillows, plasters, cervical vertebrae therapeutic devices, cervical vertebrae physiotherapy services, etc. - it doesn't sound like the products they sell are very good, right?"

"But you probably wouldn't imagine how much profit [Neckrider] brings to the Southeast Asia branch, and what a significant portion of our business it represents. In the past, when we gave out salary increases or bonuses, colleagues would joke about building a shrine for [Neckrider]—a living ancestral hall."

"We in the department still have a lot of speculation about what his obsession is. Based on the codenames given by the marketing department, I've always suspected that he might be passively creating some spirits, some demons or monsters? What's that word? Little ghosts? They're definitely invisible to the naked eye."

"And then these spirits or whatever they are will ride on the necks of everyone around them—within a certain range, of course—so they all get shoulder and neck problems. Otherwise why are they called 'Neckriders'? It's pretty scary when you think about it, isn't it?"

(End of this chapter)