Though Marion Wheeler had a gun trained on him, Luoshu wasn't the least bit nervous.
The Director of the Anti-Memetics Division was indeed one of the most powerful figures in the Foundation, second only to the O5 Council.
It was also true that the old woman had been tainted by anti-memetic properties after prolonged exposure to them.
And yes, her W-Class Mnestic Enhancers could, to some extent, counteract anti-memetic effects.
But none of that intimidated Luoshu!
In the past, he'd avoided Marion Wheeler to conceal his anomalous nature—he didn't want to be contained and studied by the Foundation.
But now?
Now the Foundation wanted him dead. What did he have left to fear?
Though he couldn't use his teleportation ability at the moment, that didn't mean he was defenseless.
Marion Wheeler was, after all, just an ordinary human—no reality-bending, no immortality.
If Luoshu wanted, he had plenty of ways to deal with her.
The key was: he didn't need to.
Marion Wheeler clearly wasn't aligned with "God" or Barbie. Her relationship with Luoshu wasn't a life-or-death matter.
How could he tell?
"God" and Barbie had one stance toward Luoshu: kill on sight!
With hostilities already at that level, why bother with theatrics like negotiation or surrender?
Who were they performing for?
Yet Marion Wheeler hadn't shot Luoshu the moment she confirmed his identity—her stance was different from "God's."
Luoshu could read that much.
Since she hadn't fired immediately, there was still room for dialogue.
As he quietly activated Degradation Aura, Luoshu asked, "What do you really want?"
"Hey, don't steal my line. That's my question," the Anti-Memetics Director retorted, oblivious to his subtle move.
"I don't want anything. I just came for my things."
Luoshu didn't mind stalling. The longer this dragged on, the better for him.
Soon, the old woman's pistol would be useless.
Marion Wheeler pressed, "Fine, then let me rephrase: What do you know?"
That was a trap of a question!
I know plenty—should I just spill everything?
She's obviously fishing for intel!
Luoshu played dumb. "What could I possibly know? I don't even know what I know. What do you want me to know?"
Marion Wheeler snorted at his wordplay and raised her pistol. "Don't think I won't shoot. You're a Foundation fugitive. Cut the crap."
Don't be hasty!
The aura hasn't taken full effect yet!
"Alright, fine. I'm not with Chaos Insurgency. If you want intel on them, I can't help."
"Pfah! What do I care about Chaos Insurgency? I'm Anti-Memetics, not MTF-Delta-5—their nonsense isn't my problem."
Now Luoshu was confused. "Then what are you asking? At least give me a topic!"
"The Truth-Bringer," Marion Wheeler enunciated sharply.
Luoshu stiffened, instinctively turning halfway to stare at her.
"How do you know that? Are you with Chaos?"
"I told you, Chaos doesn't concern me! I just want to know—how much of the truth have you uncovered?"
"But how do you even know about this?" Luoshu was baffled.
If Marion Wheeler had no ties to Chaos Insurgency, where had she heard the term?
This was a secret even Barbie didn't know.
The old woman's eyes gleamed. "How? Don't forget—I study anti-memes."
Anti-memes?
A realization dawned on Luoshu.
Marion Wheeler continued, "Anti-memes are strange entities. They hide silently in corners of the world, unknown. So what's their purpose?"
Yeah, what?
Luoshu sensed the gravity of her next words. After all, this old woman was the world's foremost expert on anti-memes.
She lowered her pistol slightly—no longer aiming directly at him.
She, too, understood that Luoshu wasn't a mindless killer.
If he were truly the monster the Foundation's bulletins made him out to be, he'd have murdered her the moment he entered.
The Anti-Memetics Director also needed an opening for dialogue.
"In my research, I discovered a secret. Their duty is to guard secrets—to wait for the Truth-Bringer. Others can't hear their whispers. Only the Truth-Bringer can."
She paused, locking eyes with Luoshu.
He regarded her with newfound respect. He hadn't expected her to uncover this much.
But so what? The truths held by anti-memes were still inaudible to him. Given her ambiguous stance, Luoshu chose to keep playing dumb.
"Really? That's incredible! You've opened my eyes!"
"Don't play coy, brat!" she snapped. "You impersonated an O5-8 envoy to infiltrate SCP-055's chamber. Don't tell me you know nothing! SCP-055's behavior says it all—you're the Truth-Bringer!"
Well, damn.
Old foxes are hard to fool.
Luoshu shrugged. "Aren't you a little old for such curiosity?"
Marion Wheeler smirked. "'Hear the truth in the morning, die content by evening.' The older I get, the less I want to take mysteries to the grave. I've studied anti-memes for decades—if I die without solving this, I'll never rest!"
"Fine. When I have answers, I'll tell you. Don't ask me now—I know just as little as you."
With that, Luoshu turned to leave.
Marion Wheeler raised her pistol, hesitated, then lowered it again.
"Cheeky brat. I'll hold you to that."
By now, her gun had degenerated beyond recognition.
After leaving Marion Wheeler's room unscathed, Luoshu was lost in thought.
Who'd have thought the Director of Anti-Memetics—instead of focusing on Foundation duties—was also pursuing the truth?
But this revelation hinted at something deeper:
"God" knew little about anti-memes or the Anti-Memetics Division.
Otherwise, given the old bastard's merciless nature, he'd never have allowed Marion Wheeler and her division to operate outside his control.
Now that's interesting.
Anti-memes guarded secrets and awaited the Truth-Bringer.
"God" guarded the world yet harbored lethal hostility toward Chaos Insurgency and the Truth-Bringer.
Their stances were diametrically opposed.
Which meant—the truth must pose an existential threat to this world!
So…
Should he keep digging?