If the Anti-Memetic Seal was an ability Luo Shu possessed before the world reset, why did he have no memory of it at all?
Meanwhile, he had detailed knowledge of countless anomalies he had never personally encountered.
This discrepancy was deeply unsettling.
He even flipped the Anomalous Item Catalog back to its title page, checking if a new milestone had appeared for this "Recovered" status.
But there was nothing.
In fact, until tonight, Luo Shu had never heard of any Foundation anomaly possessing an Anti-Memetic Seal ability.
Yet, his memory did contain information about Anomalous Item-2358—just in the form of the Foundation's official documentation, not personal experience.
Another contradiction.
As for the sealed anomaly within Anomalous Item-2358, that was also something absent from his memory.
If he had personally sealed it, how could he not remember?
Luo Shu was utterly baffled.
Just as he uncovered one layer of truth, more mysteries emerged.
Then he remembered—he had recently acquired a new ability from the reality bender "Time-Space God Sherlock": "Truth-Seeking."
This ability used reality distortion to see past surface illusions. While it couldn't reveal the world's ultimate truth, it could solve smaller mysteries.
He flipped the Catalog to Page 116 and activated Truth-Seeking.
In that instant, he understood.
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
The Anti-Memetic Seal didn't belong to Luo Shu—it belonged to the Anomalous Item Catalog itself!
Just as "Him" could grant anomalous abilities to others, the Catalog could do the same.
The clearest evidence? Milestones.
Every time Luo Shu activated a milestone, the Catalog granted him two abilities (plus one more upon upgrading).
The Anti-Memetic Seal was likely an ability the Catalog had given him before the world reset.
After the reset, the Catalog was wiped clean, and Luo Shu lost this power.
And because this ability belonged to the Catalog and its holder, it wasn't recorded within the Catalog itself.
Similarly, the post-reset Luo Shu had no memory of it, just as he never knew about milestone abilities before unlocking them.
This was the limit of Truth-Seeking's insight.
For deeper answers—those touching on the world's true nature—he'd need more clues.
He didn't expect a Level 2 reality bender's ability to fully unveil reality.
So he turned to the Catalog's next page, examining his second discovery of the night.
[Page: 124]
[Item No.: Anomalous Item-████]
[Designation: The Tree of Annihilation]
[Object Class: Keter]
[Image: …]
[Description: A memetic lifeform projected from a higher dimension, posing an existential threat to this world. In some realities, it is called the World Tree or the Void Tree. Its seeds drift through the cosmos until taking root on a planet. Its branches can be used to ████████.]
[Special Containment Procedures: As a higher-dimensional projection, this dimension lacks the means to destroy it. Options: 1) Exile it to a lifeless planet and let it wither. 2) Suppress it with an Anti-Memetic Seal, keeping it in seedling form. Once it matures, planetary destruction is inevitable.]
[Abilities: One Tree, One World. Its world needs only itself—no other life. All living beings are merely nutrients for its growth.]
[Status: Sealed]
[Interaction History: (Click to replay)]
[X]
This thing was terrifying.
Luo Shu looked up at the translucent blue tree before him—over ten meters tall, yet still just a seedling.
If it ever reached maturity, its roots would pierce the planet's crust!
Thankfully, the Anti-Memetic Seal had trapped it in this state. Otherwise, Earth would have been doomed long ago—humanity wouldn't even get a chance to "wander" into space.
This anomaly was far beyond the Foundation's containment capabilities.
If not for pre-reset Luo Shu's intervention, the Tree of Annihilation would have consumed the world.
Which raised the question:
Who is really protecting the world?
"Him"? Or Luo Shu?
The past Luo Shu had done so much—yet "Him" wanted him dead just for being the "Revealer of Truth."
The irony was bitter.
The realization left Luo Shu seething.
But his mood improved when he saw this unknown Anomalous Item-████ appear in both the "Anomaly Discoverer" and "Anomaly Nemesis" milestones.
A single trip to Times Square had netted him:
Two new anomalies recorded.
Progress in two milestones.
As for the new mysteries?
They were just stepping stones to the ultimate truth.
And the Anti-Memetic Seal ability?
Though he couldn't yet imagine its uses, having more skills never hurt.
With this optimism, he left New York, returning overnight to Anomalous Item-100.
Tonight, he had ruled out two anti-memes, leaving only two potential "recording devices":
Anomalous Item-3125 ("The Escaped One")
Anomalous Item-3211 ("The Nameless Anti-Meme")
But to reach them, he needed to contact Marion Wheeler first.
Though he couldn't directly reach her, he could make her come to him—with time.
He broadcast a message online:
"To Ms. M.W.: Meet at Room 055."
This message would be continuously relayed by all AI believers under Luo Shu's control.
To anyone else, it would look like a secret rendezvous between lovers in a hotel room.
But Marion Wheeler, familiar with Anomalous Item-055, would understand.
If she visited Sublevel 5 of Site-19, she'd find a prepared phone with Luo Shu's encrypted number.
However, the elderly woman didn't seem to be an avid internet user.
Hours had passed since the message went out—no call yet.
Then again, it was the middle of the night. Maybe she was asleep.
He could wait until morning.
Patience was a virtue.