Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 61: Not Changing the World, But Choosing the World

The world is flat.  

This was the only key phrase Lin Xu could think of, aside from the prearranged password, that might convince Bai Mo to trust him.  

And indeed, upon hearing these words, Bai Mo on the other end immediately fell silent.  

Several seconds passed before she spoke again:  

"Where are you?"  

"Come find me!"  

"I'm at Zhong Mountain Sanatorium."  

"Get here as fast as possible!"  

Zhong Mountain Sanatorium?!  

Wait, can just anyone enter a high-security sanatorium?  

Of course not!  

Clearly, Bai Mo had taken a different path from him and Jiang Xingye.  

She had ultimately chosen to side with the authorities, leaving Tianqiong Technology behind.  

Perhaps this was why, among all the key figures connected to the "Apocalypse," only her name could be openly mentioned in official records?  

This simplified things!  

Lin Xu had been wondering how to leverage his influence within Bracelet World to persuade authorities and obtain more information.  

But with time so limited and procedures so lengthy, it had remained only a theoretical possibility.  

Now, with Bai Mo as a bridge, "influencing the authorities" might actually become feasible.  

But time was running out.  

"I'm coming immediately," Lin Xu said urgently.  

"Grant me access—I'm heading there by car now!"  

"No need, I'll send someone to—"  

"There's no time! I only have 46 minutes left!"  

"I'm transmitting our convoy's details now—have your people grant clearance!"  

"...Understood. Then hurry!"  

The holographic display vanished as the call disconnected.  

Lin Xu turned and boarded the vehicle, addressing the still-dazed Skull Head:  

"Move out—to Zhong Mountain Sanatorium!"  

"...Roger that."  

Skull Head nodded solemnly and relayed new orders to the team.  

With their destination reset for Zhong Mountain and operating under "official orders," Skull Head abandoned all traffic regulations.  

Even on city streets, their speedometer hovered above 160 km/h.  

In just five minutes, the convoy reached the perimeter of Zhong Mountain Scenic Area.  

An escort team awaited them at the mountain base. Following the lead military vehicle, their progress became unimpeded.  

Lin Xu's heart pounded violently.  

Barring unforeseen circumstances, this would mark his first encounter—since entering Bracelet World—with someone possessing "comprehensive intelligence" who also understood his true nature.  

Numerous secrets would be revealed within minutes.  

How he became Tianqiong Technology's CEO. His connection to the Star Voyager-1 project. His collaboration with authorities on the Donghuang Taiyi lander. Why his "status" in this world appeared so ambiguous and peculiar...  

Answers to everything might soon emerge.  

Even the most crucial mystery—the enigma of the Zhurong rover—might finally be explained!  

Lin Xu's hands trembled slightly. At this moment, he felt more tense than when first storming Tianqiong Technology's launch site armed with a rifle.  

The mountain road finally ended. Lin Xu exited decisively, following security personnel toward the sanatorium's interior.  

When Skull Head attempted to follow, guards immediately blocked him.  

Retreating obediently, he received Lin Xu's parting words:  

"Don't worry—your wife does love you."  

"She's just been altered by some... irresistible force."  

Lin Xu observed Skull Head's entire demeanor relax abruptly.  

Perhaps this was all the answer he truly sought?  

Maybe even the Apocalypse paled in significance compared to this?  

Damn, you're hopelessly devoted.  

Lin Xu sighed inwardly. Then, at the path's end, he spotted a familiar yet strangely altered figure.  

Bai Mo.  

She had aged dramatically.  

Excessively so.  

Though only in her forties, she appeared emaciated and hunched like a nonagenarian.  

No wonder her phone voice had sounded so weary.  

She must be... gravely ill.  

As Lin Xu approached, Bai Mo preempted him:  

"How do you know things about me?"  

"That's classified intel!"  

"What's your information channel?"  

What the hell??  

In this world, did he not even possess intel about her higher-dimensional experiences?  

What kind of world was this?  

Lin Xu had assumed this was a future world connected to reality.  

Now that belief wavered again.  

Combined with confirmed evidence about "critical nodes," a sudden hypothesis struck him.  

Perhaps the bracelet wasn't a "world simulator" at all.  

But a "world selector"?  

Could it be matching achieved critical nodes from reality, then selecting the corresponding world from countless possibilities??  

Only this could explain his and Bai Mo's current peculiar dynamic!  

Yes, there had been precursors.  

That HRD at Tianqiong Technology—he'd appeared in different positions.  

He was one of the "variables" across different worlds.  

Verification was essential.  

Drawing a deep breath, Lin Xu demanded:  

"Never mind my information sources."  

"First tell me—in your records, what kind of person am I? What's my history?"  

Bai Mo visibly faltered at this.  

"You don't know yourself??"  

"Amnesia—no time! Just answer!"  

Lin Xu pressed urgently:  

"This world ends in 34 minutes! I need intel before then!"  

Bai Mo's expression shifted imperceptibly. A subtle hand gesture dispersed nearby guards.  

Then she stated flatly:  

"You're ordinary—not by common standards, but by ours."  

"You advanced Tianqiong Technology, developed Star Voyager-1."  

"You launched me into space. After its return, you quickly rose through corporate ranks."  

"Then you facilitated Tianqiong's collaboration with authorities on Donghuang Taiyi."  

"That project made you CEO."  

"Next came Mars initiatives. You built Star Voyager-3 for the mission."  

"You reached Mars, then returned promptly."  

"But someone stayed behind."  

"Jiang Xingye?"  

Lin Xu frowned:  

"Why was she red-flagged? Why is she my ex-wife now?"  

"She's tied to Planetary Reincarnation! They established a colonial republic on Mars!"  

"She renounced all Earth citizenship! How could your marriage persist?!"  

A colonial republic...  

Lin Xu's mind reeled.  

This world... was insane.  

Yet this also confirmed—it wasn't a continuation of reality's timeline.  

Just one "possible outcome" among countless timelines.  

No wonder Jiang Xingye's name became taboo.  

No wonder his "CEO" position got replaced.  

To authorities, they weren't just national traitors—they'd betrayed humanity itself...  

Lin Xu checked the time.  

30 minutes remained.  

With numerous questions unanswered, he started with the most critical one.  

Locking eyes with Bai Mo, he asked:  

"What really happened to the Zhurong rover we brought back?"