Brian Carter's expression became serious, and he said in a deep voice:

　　"For the salvation of all humanity."

　　"……" Dr. Parker picked up her pen and heavily circled a spot on the document in front of her.

　　Inside that circle was a line of text:

　　"Moderate mental abnormality (suspected delusional disorder, to be observed)."

Chapter Three: The Market

　　After drawing the circle, Dr. Parker picked up her pen, looked at Brian Carter, and chuckled:

　　"This seems to be based on the slogan from the 'Salvation Army,' isn't it?"

　　Brian Carter gave an "mm" and said seriously:

　　"Dr. Parker, I think you have a bit of a misunderstanding about my situation, taking some normal things as evidence of illness."

　　Dr. Parker straightened up slightly, a faint smile appearing on her fair face:

　　"In what ways do you think there is a misunderstanding?"

　　Brian Carter was silent for two or three seconds, as if organizing his words, then said:

　　"You can't understand that kind of pure, noble sentiment. You don't know what it means to be someone who has transcended base interests."

　　Dr. Parker pressed her lips tightly together, seemingly using great effort not to laugh.

　　She pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on her nose, took a light breath, and slowly exhaled:

　　"Indeed, in this era, where is there room for idealists to survive? Even the 'Salvation Army' has fallen."

　　The doctor paused, then said:

　　"I can try to understand you, but you must tell me, how did you come to have such thoughts? What things gave you this impulse?"

　　"Nothing in particular, that's just how I think." Brian Carter sighed, smiled, and said, "Dr. Parker, you are the gentlest and most elegant woman I've ever met. There's something I want to say to you."

　　Dr. Parker's eyebrows moved slightly as she said:

　　"I have…"

　　Before she could finish, Brian Carter added:

　　"I originally thought you could be my spiritual mother, but now I realize our minds are in two completely different worlds. What a pity."

　　"Ahem, ahem, ahem." Dr. Parker seemed to choke on her own saliva.

　　She immediately picked up the ceramic cup beside her, took a couple of sips, and, as if searching for something to say, muttered to herself:

　　"Ah, this month's tea ration is already finished."

　　Before Brian Carter could speak, she lowered her voice and asked mysteriously:

　　"Have you recently heard any sounds that others can't hear, or seen things that others can't see?"

　　Brian Carter shook his head with great certainty:

　　"No."

　　Dr. Parker observed Brian Carter's expression for a few seconds, then changed the subject.

　　After more than ten minutes, a sweet female voice sounded simultaneously on every floor:

　　"It is now the top of the hour.

　　"The current time is 6:00 p.m."

　　"The broadcast time signal." After the voice repeated three times and stopped, Dr. Parker rubbed her brow and said, "That's all for today."

　　She thought for a moment and added:

　　"Since you have no sleep problems and haven't seen things others can't see, I won't prescribe any medication. Come back for a follow-up at the same time next week."

　　"Okay, Dr. Parker." Brian Carter stood up and walked toward the door.

　　After opening the door, he suddenly turned around and said:

　　"Thank you, Dr. Parker."

　　Dr. Parker replied with a smile:

　　"You're welcome."

　　After Brian Carter left and carefully closed the door, Dr. Parker sighed and murmured with a hint of a smile:

　　"So polite."

　　As she sighed, she picked up the folder on the desk and flipped through the records inside:

　　"Name: Brian Carter.

　　"Age: 21.

　　"Date of birth: New Calendar Year 25, September 8.

　　"Family situation: Father Samuel Carter was a D7 team leader-level employee, disappeared in New Calendar Year 37 along with the entire 'Old Investigation Team'; mother Emily Bolton was a D3 regular employee, an elementary school teacher, died in New Calendar Year 40, October, cause of death suspected to be excessive grief; from October of New Calendar Year 40 to September of Year 43, Brian Carter grew up in the orphanage corresponding to floor 495, and was admitted to the university's electronics department.

　　"Situation description: In May of New Calendar Year 46, Brian Carter voluntarily applied to become a confidential experiment volunteer and participated in the 'C-14' project. His reason was the hope of gaining great power to investigate the truth behind his father's disappearance.

　　"Experiment result: Failure, no change compared to the control group.

　　"Aftereffects: Intermittent logical confusion, resulting in a certain degree of jumpiness in thinking, no other abnormalities.

　　"Additional items: Genetic testing normal……

　　"Comprehensive assessment: Moderate mental abnormality (suspected delusional disorder, to be observed)……"

　　After reading for a while, Dr. Parker finally wrote:

　　"Follow-up result on July 10, New Calendar Year 46: Symptoms have not improved, but have not worsened either. No tendency toward violence, no signs of aggression, can be considered temporarily harmless."

　　……

　　6:00 p.m. is the company's designated end of workday. Except for certain project teams that need to work overtime and some 24-hour shift positions, all employees will leave the "Management Area" on the 5th floor of the building, the "Research Area" from the 6th to the 45th floor, the "Factory Area" (also Maintenance Area) from the 46th to the 145th floor, and the "Inner Ecological Area" from the 146th to the 345th floor, returning to the "Living Area," which has as many as 300 floors.