The reason that “Filth” was regarded as the strangest mysterious phenomenon was that after the misfortunate research staff saw the picture, a black spot appeared around his ankle.
The black spot was only around the size of a fingernail. It may have gone unnoticed if not for Chen Chen performing a full body check on the research staff.
It was only after Chen Chen ordered the researcher to strip naked when the member complied unwillingly and discovered the inconspicuous black mark around his ankle.
The reason it was difficult to notice was due to the contrast of skin color. After all, 90% of the research staff Chen Chen hired in Namibia were black people whose skin tones were considered darkest among their peers.
This was not an issue of racism on Chen Chen’s part. In truth, Chen Chen could not care less about skin color. As far as he was considered, he just wanted to hire any researchers available on the market whether they were Caucasian, Asian or whatnot as it was all the same to him. It just happened to be that Namibia was a country largely populated by black people.
Back to the main topic at hand. Initially, after discovering the black spot on the Delta grade research staff codenamed D00253, the afflicted did not report any notable sensation. The black spot looked like powdery soot and upon touching it, it felt like a layer of black ash.
As time went on, the surface area of the black spot slowly expanded. At the same time, black spots began appearing on other parts of the subject’s body. Furthermore, the black spots seemed to seep through the body. After an hour, the total surface area of black spots on the subject’s body had expanded from the original one square centimeter to ten square centimeters.
There were three afflicted locations as well. They were the left ankle, right elbow, and left cheek.
It was around this point when something abnormal started to happen to the research member.
The skin around his ankle was already undergoing a state of carbonization, where the gentlest touch would yield a shallow layer of black ash. Simply by poking its surface with a finger, the subject could produce a piece of black ash from it.
After scooping out the black ash, a half-centimeter pit could be observed appearing in the region of the member’s ankles, leaving the flesh and bones underneath that have not yet been carbonized exposed.
However, there was no end to the carbonization effect. The process could not be contained even by washing away all the black ash around the afflicted region. Its spread could only be hindered slightly by carving out the flesh around the afflicted carbonized region, which would result in black spots eventually appearing on other parts of the body.
What was rather unusual was that the subject afflicted with this carbonization effect did not feel anything, not even the slightest tinge of pain.
At last, after fifteen long hours, the carbonization effect had spread all over the subject’s body. All of his limbs had broken off. The black spot had invaded into the deepest crevice of his brain as well. By then, the research member was pronounced dead and his life came to waste.
Yet, the carbonization effect did not cease just because the researcher was dead.
Twenty-four hours later, every single part of the corpse was completely carbonized. The entire body had turned into a loose pile of black ashes. If this was moved outside, the slightest breeze of wind would reduce it to nothingness.
Chen Chen did not stop even after concluding the experiment on the “Filth” Basilisk image. Based on the information compiled by Yoru Kamidera earlier, this “Filth” was different from the other Basilisk patterns. The symptoms it produced appeared to be contagious.
Therefore, Chen Chen had another research member A look at the “Filth” picture. After the member was infected, he had another research member B enter the quarantine zone to be in close proximity with research member A.
Chen Chen noticed that under the circumstance where the two do not make any physical contact, the black spot phenomenon did not seem to infect the other member.
The contagious effect could not be transmitted even if research member B touched the black ashes falling off of research member A’s body. It would appear that the only proper method of infection is by direct physical contact.
Additionally, this effect appeared to be sporadic. This meant that there was no guarantee that the “Filth” could be transmitted even if the healthy member made direct contact with the infected. There was what seemed to be a certain chance to negate the corrosive effects of “Filth”.
As the frequency of direct contact between the two people went up, the chances of being infected increased proportionally as well.
Little X conducted several experiments to tabulate the rate of infection caused by direct contact with “Filth” and concluded the infection rate was approximately 30%.
“Unlike the other patterns, the ‘Filth’ Basilisk pattern has a determined rate of infection. The characteristics it displays is closer to that of a ‘mysterious phenomenon’ than that of a Basilisk pattern.”
At the moment, Chen Chen was seated on the sofa, quietly observing everything going on behind the observation window. His expression was rather remote. “If we interpret the Basilisk patterns as the earliest form of manifestation of the memetic effect and the ‘mysterious phenomenon’ as the later stages of its manifestation, this places “Filth” right in the middle of this process. It has both the characteristics of the Basilisk pattern and the ‘mysterious phenomenon’.”
“That’s right, that’s what I think too.”
Little X responded, “Sir Godfather, how do you suppose we should break down these memetic effects? I can’t seem to find any relevant information in my database of human civilization that may help provide an insight into the memetic effect. This appears to be a completely unexplored field for humanity.”
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say it is completely unexplored, doesn’t the book The Selfish Gene written by the famous American scientist Richard Dawkins describe memetic concepts?”
Chen Chen smiled. “For now, we can only form surface-level hypotheses concerning memetic technology as mankind’s current understanding of this field is almost a completely blank slate. Still, we wouldn’t have to start from zero if we intend to study it, don’t forget we brought back the blueprint of the Gantz server machine as well as a language known as Everlasting, simply known as E language. Couldn’t we gain control over the Gantz server machine if you mastered the E language?”
“We can give it a shot!”
Little X became enthused upon hearing this. “You’re certainly right. I’ve gone through the data you returned with. The E language is far more sophisticated than any other programming languages while also being more refined. If I can rewrite my program in E language, I might even be able to make the Gantz server machine my new home!”
“That’s right, that’s what I was thinking as well.”
Chen Chen nodded. “If you can get a handle on the operational procedures of the Gantz to sever machine, our research of memetic effects will be made that much easier. At the very least, we won’t have to wander around cluelessly in the dark like this trying to find the right path.”
This conversation between Chen Chen and Little X marked the end of the first Basilisk pattern experiment. As for the more volatile experiments on the mysterious phenomenon, Chen Chen decided he was better off keeping his distance for now.
There had been no mysterious phenomenon occurring in the real world yet. Considering Chen Chen’s current understanding of memetic technology, he would prefer making sure things remain that way for now.
For Chen Chen’s current situation, there was no chance of him successfully combating any memetic effect. Should any memetic effect outbreak occur in the world, it would be as good as a death sentence for all of the world.