The entity functions by distorting the truth until the lie becomes more "real" than the reality—a direct nod to Jean Baudrillard’s philosophy of Simulacra and Simulation . 3. The Role of the Investigator

The Ripple offers its victims ultimate relevance in exchange for their humanity. Maya Crane’s "unnatural" death was the final payment for her digital immortality.

Shows how even "authenticity" and "counter-culture" become just another brand to be sold.