Chapter 823 — Three Stages
Blade of Dawn · Page 4 of 4
"First of all, this is a non-implanted neural cord. It establishes a connection with the brain through contact points at the base of the skull, and those contact points have a built-in fuse mechanism. The moment the user's brainwave disturbance exceeds the safety threshold, the contacts disconnect on their own. Secondly, there are this many experts watching, and the laboratory has prepared the most thorough emergency equipment. You can put your heart back where it belongs and let it keep beating there for a few more decades. Stop working yourself up over nothing."
Byron opened his mouth as if to say something more, but Wandou had already risen from her chair and, without a word, quietly pushed him aside.
Pi Yun glanced at Byron. "Wandou is braver than you are."
Byron's lips moved twice; he seemed to have a great deal more to say, but in the end he closed his mouth.
In a situation like this, one does not keep questioning the professionals, nor make trouble for the experiment—even a half-made knight of mercenary origins understood this simple principle.
"Wandou, sit down in this chair," Pi Yun said, leading the girl to a nearby chair. She had tied up her hair before leaving the house that day, baring the smooth nape of her neck. Holding the world's first "Neural Thorn," Pi Yun brought it slowly toward the back of Wandou's neck. "It will be a little cold, then you will feel some tingling, but it will pass quickly. After that the tray will adhere to your skin to ensure an effective connection with the contact points at the base of the skull—the 'Adhesion Spell' holds very firmly, so if you want to take it off later, remember to press the buttons on the back in order first, otherwise it will hurt..."
Pi Yun explained the precautions with great care, and only then did he finally fit the silver-white device against the back of Wandou's neck.
A very faint clicking came from the silver-white metal joints. The device—assembled from magical conductive materials, lightweight metal, and biomimetic substances—sensed the brainwaves and seemed at once to come alive. The triangular tray adhered to the back of Wandou's head, and between the neatly arrayed metal "nodes" a dark red current of light swiftly flowed. The runes within started up one after another; the entire Neural Thorn contracted once, then unfurled.
Wandou's neck twitched with a start, but no discomfort showed on her face.
Pi Yun straightened up, glanced at Byron, who had stepped forward in his nervousness, then turned back to look at Wandou.
"We have installed a small speaker in your Neural Thorn—you can try to 'speak' now. Concentrate, and bring what you want to say clearly to the surface of your mind. It may not be easy at first, but I believe you will get the hang of it quickly..."
Wandou turned her head hesitantly, as though still adjusting to the strange sensation at the back of her neck. Then, frowning, she did her best to concentrate in the way Pi Yun had instructed, shaping in her mind the words she wanted to say.
A strange, indistinct burst of noise came from the Neural Thorn behind her head.
Then came a second burst, in which some broken, jumbled syllables seemed to be mixed.
Wandou tried several more times, and at last the syllables began to come together, and the noise gradually subsided.
She drew a deep breath, concentrated once more, and then fixed her eyes steadily on Byron beside her.
A halting yet clear voice reached the ears of the knight, now nearly half a century old: "...Dad... thank you..."