Chapter 765 — The Dream That Transformed

Daniel's recommendation was the most reasonable choice under the circumstances, but he knew the other Mystic Pivot Order priests must be well aware of it too. It was not that they had never tried to stop Sandbox One—the crux was that this dream, already out of control, simply could not be stopped.

And for some reason, these cultists, who ought to have been cold and ruthless, were remarkably resistant to "physically severing" Sandbox One by killing all the brain-servants. Even after realizing the situation had exceeded control, they had to this day never considered this method—the one that sounded most likely to work.

This left both Gao Yang and Daniel deeply puzzled.

Even so, Daniel still had to put forward his recommendation; this was his duty as security chief, one he must fulfill here.

Hearing Daniel's words, Selena did not speak at once, and her deep, calm eyes revealed nothing of her emotions. Beside her, the Illumination Order priest sighed: "Of course we understand. In fact, no one expects Sandbox One to be repaired and return to normal anymore. The unanimous opinion of the Mystic Pivot Order is to shut it down, but…"

"Shutting down Sandbox One is not so easy," Selena spoke calmly. "We have already tried many methods, but Sandbox One refuses to execute any command. All our methods have failed."

Daniel hesitated, and only after confirming Gao Yang's expression out of the corner of his eye did he speak: "I hear there is one method that has not been tried… forcibly severing the neural cords of all the brain-servants."

Selena looked quietly at Daniel, standing before her in the form of an elegant middle-aged man, and only after a long while did she ask softly: "Do you support this method?"

"…I do not," Daniel shook his head. "The losses would be too great, and from a technical standpoint, I am not certain whether a large number of brain-servants suddenly going offline would have unpredictable effects on the normal Mind—too violent a fluctuation of information might even destroy the whole—"

Daniel did not explain from the direction of "conscience" or "compassion," but from a technical one. This was to keep his attitude from arousing suspicion. On one hand, talking of conscience and compassion among the Ember Mystic Order was itself rather strange; on the other, when he had been tortured half-mad he had been a cold, ruthless man, and the order's leadership should have some understanding of him in this regard. He did not want to display too drastic a change of personality before a veteran Mystic Pivot Order priest like Selena.

"Half the Mystic Pivot Order priests likewise oppose doing so," Selena said after hearing Daniel's reply. "Among them are myself, His Holiness the Pope, and the Illumination Order priest."

"I know… which is why I am somewhat curious, Lady Selena," Daniel nodded, weighing his words as he asked, "If we set aside the technical standpoint, and if a relatively high price were acceptable, then destroying the 'material basis' of Sandbox One on the physical plane should be the method most likely to succeed. Your reason, and His Holiness's, for opposing it—"

Daniel did not finish the sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

The Illumination Order priest turned his gaze to Selena, who held the lantern; she stood there calmly and serenely, her deep, water-like gaze resting on Daniel for a long time.

The look seemed to carry no pressure, yet it still gave Daniel the sudden illusion that all his secrets had been seen through. Had the safety measures he had set in advance not all remained silent, he would likely have suspected the other was reading his deep memories.

After staring for nearly ten seconds, Selena calmly withdrew her gaze and said slowly, "Some things are about to stop being secrets."

"There are many reasons why we do not resort to that 'effective measure' you speak of. Technical limitations, cost, or perhaps... compassion. But none of these is the main reason.

"The main reason is that if Sandbox One is left as it is, then the 'thing' inside the sandbox... can at least still be kept inside the sandbox."

A faint chill rose in Daniel's heart.

"You mean..."

"Although we still cannot determine exactly what has been brewing inside Sandbox One, His Holiness the Pope has already sensed something... That thing has undergone a qualitative change, and so has Sandbox One itself. It is no longer merely a dream. The psychic matrix formed by the mind-slaves is the material basis that keeps the sandbox running, but on the other hand, it is also the final shackle upon this mutated dream... Break that shackle, and the dream may vanish, but it may also..."

Daniel murmured to himself, finishing the sentence Selena had left hanging: "...it may also awaken in the real world..."

Selena glanced at Daniel and gave a slight nod. "As long as you understand."

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