Chapter 828 [Cognition]
The word "instinct" actually encompasses a very broad range.
In fact, many behaviors that can be performed without conscious thought can be attributed to instinct.
Humans have very few instincts, only some simple reflexes. For example, if your hand touches fire, before your brain can even react, your hand will instinctively pull back.
Many creatures have imprinted a great deal of action into their instincts. There is a famous experiment in which the brain of a cat was removed, and it could still walk, run, and even jump over obstacles.
There was also a chicken whose head had been cut off, which survived for more than a year.
Many basic neural reflexes are controlled by the spinal cord or other nerve centers and do not require the brain's involvement.
Hughes felt increasingly horrified as he thought about it. If he were to design a race specifically for this world that could use technology without being affected by cognitive interference, that would be almost the best way to bypass it.
By preventing the subjective generation of incorrect perceptions and instead channeling the ability to create them into the brain's instincts that don't involve thinking, one can perfectly bypass cognitive interference mechanisms.
In this situation, no matter how fast one learns, there will be no problem. However, those who cannot be contacted happen to have maximum learning abilities.
Everything was such a coincidence, such a precise coincidence, one thing leading to another.
The more you think about it, the more you perceive the horror and the more you feel the strangeness of this world.
What do the untouchables have to say about this?
"They didn't find anything strange about it at all; it was like a knee-jerk reflex—nobody would think anything was wrong."
"They always relied on their intuition to manufacture it, and never thought there was anything wrong with it."
"And their manufacturing capabilities are truly impressive."
Chloe thought of that "self-propelled artillery," which, although completely different inside, looked remarkably similar from the outside.
No wonder they built it so quickly; they didn't even need to think, they could complete the mechanical manufacturing just by intuition.
"That's a terrifying ability."
"I remember they worked in the factory for a while, meaning they could perform mechanical assembly normally?"
"Yes, just as people can avoid flames burning their hands through thinking and judgment, they lose their ability to associate and innovate when doing such work."
"When working intuitively, one subconsciously designs machines that achieve the desired result, but cannot control exactly how they are accomplished."
This is really true.
"This perfectly bypasses the mechanism of cognitive interference."
Hughes sat behind his desk, his eyes flickering slightly.
He recalled that back in the Rhine, the Untouchables could assemble all sorts of large machines from scrap, and even the Holy See suffered heavy losses.
Unfortunately, their own knowledge level was not at that level, and each machine they assembled was different.
Hughes had initially thought it was some kind of supernatural ability, but he never expected the truth to be that he could complete the mechanical construction simply through intuition.
How many secrets does this world still hold?
Hughes couldn't help but sigh. This world seemed absurd, where even reality could be shaken at will, and the mind and will could directly influence the material world.
Upon closer examination, one can discover that it is actually a sophisticated system, with complex operational logic hidden beneath seemingly crude rules.
"Chloe".
I'm here.
"You take the lead in investigating the Untouchables. You are already researching secret histories, and this strange race must have left its mark on history. I will contact Ignati and ask him to help with the investigation."
The moths drawn to the flame, their pursuit of knowledge, the records in the Silent Sanctuary, and the memories of Ignatius, the immortal, might offer some clues.
"Okay." Chloe nodded solemnly in her diary. She had always been obsessed with secret histories; otherwise, she wouldn't have been so excited that she jumped all the way from the factory.
“Speaking of thought imprints, I have another piece of information here.” Hughes pulled a file from the cabinet next to him and handed it to Chloe.
"Chloe, do you know what the Vatican uses to make moon candles?"
"Yes, I know, through the spirit of a devout believer."
What is the spirit?
"Well, it's a bit complicated to explain. To put it simply, it's the embodiment of faith, an existence that can leave an 'anchor' in the sea of ignorance."
Where is it?
"In the sea of ignorance, of course, the projections of the present world converge in the minds of believers."
"So, the moon candles were made using the brains of believers?"
"right."
Don't you think it's cruel?
"Huh??" Chloe looked utterly bewildered. "Is this some lame joke? Why does it feel so cruel?"
Hughes sighed, tapped the table, and a moment later, Ash pushed open the door and walked in.
"Chloe, describe the specific process of making moon candles."
"Well, I'm not entirely sure of the details, but it roughly involves splitting open the believer's skull, removing the complete brain, placing it in a container engraved with runes, and then crushing it during a ritual."
"Alright, Chloe, what do you think of this process?"
"Hmm, it's relatively rudimentary. If I were to design it, I could use a steam engine to drive the transmission system, and let the machine handle the reciprocating hammering process."
"Ash, what do you think of this ceremony?"
"Cruel, bloody, and bizarre."
"ah?"
Chloe looked at Ash, somewhat puzzled: "Are you describing the ritual I mentioned?"
"Yes."
"But moon candles are used to suppress pollution and bring light, how can that be cruel?"
Ash: "."
“Chloe, let me put it another way,” Hughes suddenly said. “I plan to split Ash’s skull open, take out her brain, and then use a machine to hammer it.”
"What?!" Chloe stumbled back in her diary, the handwriting trembling. "How could you do this? This is terrible!"
"Isn't this the process you just designed?"
"That's for making moon candles! You've defiled sacred machinery!"
Hughes rubbed his temples, feeling like he'd heard those words before.
“Chloe, you put an alarm clock and a light bulb together, and the Untouchables couldn’t make that connection. Now I’ve changed what you did to the believers to what you did to Ash, and you still can’t make that connection?”
"Varied"
Chloe instinctively wanted to retort, but then suddenly froze.
She glanced at Ash and Hughes, and began to think about something. Slowly, the entire diary began to tremble.
"You mean I also have a thought imprint?"
Hughes nodded grimly: "I've tried it on many people, and almost no one senses anything strange about it, except for the banshees, and..."
"Chloe, you're now even in a soul state; even death can't remove this stubborn change in perception!"
(End of this chapter)
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