"Clang, clang." Two crisp sounds of alloy colliding rang out clearly in the silent laboratory, startling the researchers who turned to look at the source of the sound—between Shui Ting's hands.
It was a pair of gleaming silver handcuffs, reflecting the bright lights of the laboratory.
In an instant, everyone thought of the predecessor of the technology base. As they got off the car and stepped onto the sandy ground, the buildings they saw were named: Circular Prison.
Is Yumi Mizutani actually a criminal?
Jiang Cheng also noticed the shackles, but he remained silent; this was the only issue he and the prison authorities hadn't reached an agreement on. The short warden still held researchers in high regard, and Jiang Cheng's suggestion to give her more freedom and remove the restraints was silently rejected by the warden. Scientific research was Jiang Cheng's profession, but managing prisoners was Warden Liu's. He clearly stated that the shackles weren't simply to restrict the prisoner's movements, but rather to exert psychological pressure, constantly reminding Shui Ting: You are a prisoner.
If she forgets her identity as a prisoner and sheds that psychological pressure, the sudden feeling of freedom will bring her back to the deliberately created oppressive atmosphere. Only high pressure can turn her into an obedient puppet. This method can also be applied to capitalists and workers. Why is the working atmosphere on the deadly assembly line so tedious and cold? Why do people become stupid after working there for several months? Because this feeling of oppression turns people into puppets, making them willingly act like fools.
"Li Li, you are responsible for helping Miss Shui Ting into the cabin. After she gets used to it, we will proceed to the next step."
On Jiang Cheng's left, a chubby contestant who had heard the voice came to his senses, stepped forward, took Shui Ting from the prison guard, and led her into the sealed chamber.
One meter above the ground, there is a suspended capsule-shaped connecting pod with its door open, and three or four steps below.
Shui Ting carefully stepped onto it, her expression calm and composed, revealing no emotion. She surveyed the area inside, then turned to Jiang Cheng and asked, "Is China's technological progress this rapid now? Was this developed domestically or imported?"
"Developed by ourselves."
"The research funding allocated to you is quite substantial."
Jiang Cheng didn't answer the question, but everyone in the lab who heard it knew the answer. The vice-dean's project… with Jiang Cheng's research standing, how could he possibly worry about funding?
"I believe Miss Shuiting also saw that document last night. As you can see, there is a catheter in the capsule connected to the culture tank in front of you. With the two-way connection, your thought patterns and brain structure will be observed and imitated. After you enter, the instrument will guide you through a slight electrical stimulation of the brain. It will not hurt."
"good."
"Shen Yiran, you go with Xiao Li."
After being stunned for a long while, her gaze fixed on Shui Ting, she suddenly snapped back to reality when she heard Jiang Cheng's voice, said "Oh," and walked forward.
Mizutani sat down and lay down, fitting perfectly into the capsule. Shen Yiran helped secure her hands and feet on both sides, but this process inevitably involved touching the hard handcuffs, and the sound of the impact was particularly jarring, making her unable to help but look up at Mizutani Yumi.
The other person's gaze was deep, fixed on the ceiling, as if deep in thought. An Ran seemed like a tamed lamb, completely at the mercy of the researchers. The more terrifying a person is, the less their thoughts are revealed on their face. Sometimes, the brain can't control facial expressions, which betray their inner thoughts. Shui Ting would never show any emotion on her face, except when facing Luo Xiaoli.
Shen Yiran vaguely felt that she was a little scary, so she carefully did everything. The chubby researcher fixed the numerous current-transmitting patches on Shui Ting's head according to the designed positions.
Everything is ready.
Jiang Cheng calmly uttered a few words, and the experiment officially began. The researchers quickly arrived at their posts and began their work. When everyone was connected, it was like a huge mechanical system, with each person corresponding to a part, none of which could be missing. This kind of work efficiency was extremely high. Their words were all intermittent and rapid, achieving the purpose of communication with only two or three words.
The brightly lit laboratory was completely silent except for the sound of footsteps moving back and forth, the responses that rose and fell, and Jiang Cheng's calm commands.
The researchers seemed oblivious to the passage of time; some even lost their urge to urinate in the tense atmosphere, and not a single person chose to go to the toilet all morning. Research projects in Jiangcheng have always been taut like a bowstring, always have been.
On the other side of the base, Wan Xingwen's mission was also crucial: to develop a chip that could be implanted to simulate the brain issuing commands, while replacing the emotional module in the material to achieve reflexes indistinguishable from those of humans.
Chen Ang was already used to Jiangcheng's research model, so he seemed to be in complete control and even enjoying it. Several other veteran members were the same; they even liked this feeling.
Shen Yiran occasionally showed a hint of difficulty, appearing flustered as she adapted to the fast pace, becoming an indispensable part of this massive research machine.
Time continued to pass. Yumi Mizutani lay in the capsule, and the large screen in the laboratory showed her thoughts constantly moving. The bionic materials in the culture tank were also moving like real life.
Shui Ting didn't point out the flaw in the plan; she wouldn't remind Jiang Cheng, because he would have to face that choice sooner or later.
Thousands of kilometers away in Lanjing, Zhao Xuerou, long forgotten in a corner, sat on a bench in the afternoon, holding a book in her hands. Under the shade of the plane trees on campus, her feet were covered with layers of withered yellow leaves.
Zhao Xuerou was unaware that she was about to face the greatest danger of her life.
She wanted "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".
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