Comprehensive network wizard, magic emperor.

Chapter 349 Brain-Computer Diffusion
"Stone Tower Town is just ahead, Your Highness." Duke Kochen Ancher, in the passenger seat, turned his head and gazed at the two young men in the back.

Ten-year-old Aerin Ewen was whispering with her guard, a sword-fighting champion from the remote island of Bitterfin. Hearing this, she straightened her back and nodded in response: "Yes, thank you, Lord Anche. If we successfully meet the Miracle Walker, I will report your help to my father."

Kochen Ancher smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness, my Lord never rejects believers."

Aelin Evan felt a pang of sadness. No one in this country, from top to bottom, cared about the emperor's authority anymore. She herself had been sent to curry favor with the de facto ruler of the empire, as a hostage of the nation, as a sacrifice to the common people.

The guard beside her remained silent, but when Ai Lining looked over, he made a funny face, which made her cover her mouth and laugh.

The royal convoy arranged by the governor stopped at a corner of the town, and the rest of the journey had to be a pilgrimage on foot, a rule set by the people themselves.

This was Ai Lining's first time leaving Hongdu, and she found the town of Shita, which was under construction, quite interesting.

“My lord does not delight in extravagance.” Cochin Ancher suggested leaving the royal guard in Kimberley, so at this moment the princess was accompanied only by one guard, six ladies-in-waiting, and five guards who also served as drivers.

Such pomp and circumstance were commonplace for the people of Shita Town. They had seen wealthy urban capitalists with dozens of people carrying luxurious hospital beds to the cape for medical treatment, which was considered a strange and unusual occurrence.

An old woman walking beside the procession suddenly smiled and said, "Today will be a beautiful day."

Ai Lining quickly replied, "That's great."

The woman ignored her and continued to stare straight ahead, saying to the air, "Has the Old Street Department Store received any new cashmere fabric? Place an order for me, twenty meters, yes, I'll pick it up at three o'clock this afternoon."

"Who is she talking to?" Ai Lining and her companions were pale-faced. "Are there ghosts in this place?"

Duke Ancher explained, “Not ghosts, but angels and spirits.” He reminded the woman, “Hey, madam, you don’t need to speak; you can communicate with spirits with your thoughts. You’re frightening outsiders.”

"Did I speak out? I'm so sorry, young lady. You look like you're from a big city. Here, have an apple."

Ai Lining suppressed her unease, took the apple, and dared not eat it nor throw it away.

"Your Highness, there is no need to panic. Before long, angels will descend upon everyone. Once you have your own elf, you will no longer need to envy others," Duke Anche said with a beaming smile.

"An Cheqing, could you please explain?"

“Of course.” Kotchen Ancher’s spirits lifted. “To obtain an angel sprite, one must first receive the grace of my Lord, who will implant an angel egg into the skull. Once the holy egg sprouts, the brain will connect with the invisible celestial net, at which point one can obtain a unique, rudimentary sprite, shaped like a white silkworm. This sprite can then be upgraded to a more powerful and divine form.”

He spoke at length about the benefits of the Brain-Computer Interactive, such as greatly improving learning efficiency, providing reasonable suggestions for production and daily life, constantly monitoring physical health data, and acting as a close companion to relieve worries and share joy...

This information was far too advanced for people still living in the era of the electrical revolution.

Alinin Evan only understood one thing: that a foreign object needed to be implanted in his brain.

She asked hesitantly, "Do I need brain surgery?"

Surgical conditions in this era would make even Death laugh; doctors openly performing craniotomies on patients in theaters—a scene enough to send shivers down the spines of any audience member. Even hearsay is enough to horrify.

“That’s right,” Duke Ancher readily admitted.

The members of the royal delegation all looked ashen-faced.

"But it doesn't hurt. If it were my Lord's blessing, I would only feel a coolness on my forehead. It would be a little uncomfortable if the doctors from the Lighthouse were to do it."

Ailin Evan forced a smile, maintaining his composure, and thought to himself: "The stuff they're putting into people's brains can actually improve their mood. It must be something bad. Once that stuff is implanted, living people become like puppets, only knowing how to obey orders."

Emperor Corvin Evan once lamented to his daughter in his study that if he could plant a bomb in the brains of generals, governors, and the people, the empire would prosper and no scoundrel would dare to deceive the monarch again.

With this thought in mind, she looked at the people of Stone Tower Town again and found their behavior suspicious and their smiles eerie, like hollow puppets on a theatrical stage. Duke Ancher's friendly demeanor throughout the journey was actually a sinister and terrifying act.

"Your Highness, you must be eager to receive the Angel's Egg, right?"

"Is that so?...Maybe." Aileen Evan looked down at the road, her hands and feet were cold. As she walked, tears fell, blowing in the wind onto her plain white dress, like raindrops tapping on her precious pendant.

The group had already passed through the town and was walking on the asphalt road leading to the cape. At the end of the road was a group of militiamen on duty, as well as an old witch with white hair.

She stepped forward to greet him. "Mr. Ancher." "Madam, thank you for your kind visit."

"The Grand Mage foretold your arrival, so I thought I should come and see you beforehand. Alas, is this poor child His Highness Elinin?"

"Yes."

The witch stepped forward and took the princess's hand. "Look at you, don't cry, and don't be afraid. Your father is heartless. But now that you're here, no one will harm you."

Ai Lining withdrew her hand, performed a curtsy while lifting her skirt, her eyes still red-rimmed.

She followed the witch along the meadow path at the headland, passing apprentice huts along the way, listening to the witch introduce the owners: this one performs astrology, this one sells jewelry, this one is a quack doctor, and this one herds sheep.

“But there are no sheep in the sheepfold!” Ai Lining couldn’t help but ask, and she stopped crying.

The witch laughed, "He's gone out. He's gone to the Land of Abundance to distribute medicine to the people there. The lambs have grown up, and now everyone takes turns herding them."

These houses are so simple, even somewhat dilapidated, yet they are inhabited by saints of the Church of Miracles. The lighthouse is not as tall and magnificent as any clock tower in Hongdu; it is like a piece of chalk on the seashore, inhabited by the world's only deity.

Corvin Evan had once cowered on the ground, weeping and cursing the Miracle Walker as he begged for mercy, trembling. It was the first time Aerinen had seen his father, the master of the Empire, so pitiful, like a neurotic patient.

This tower is where the monster is sealed, the terrifying three-eyed skeleton. Aelin murmured: May the waves and sea breeze forever imprison it.

Passing through the low gate of the courtyard, two alien fruit trees and a patch of blooming aster were planted in the open space, the rest of the area overgrown with weeds. The main entrance of the lighthouse was wide open, and a young foreigner sat behind a table.

Aerin Evan knew little about the Miracle Walker, but had heard that it was the Lighthouse Keeper. Now, having met it once, all the terrifying rumors about the Three-Eyed Skull vanished, and she bowed her head in respect.

“My Lord, miracles. Arinin Evan, on behalf of my father, His Majesty the Emperor, sends his greetings to the Supreme One.”

“Kevin Evan, he curses me every day and begs me to forgive his disrespect.” The Night Watchman’s words made the little girl’s lips turn white and her cheeks drain of blood.

"I...I beg your forgiveness on behalf of my father..."

Lin Bo looked at the guard beside him and smiled, "I remember you. Last year's sword fighting champion. You defeated the strongest sailor in Stone Tower Town."

The royal guard gripped his weapon tightly, seemingly intending to fight his way out with Ailin. His young eyes showed no fear; he neither feared the gods nor revered life, caring only about honor and duty, and was willing to die for a command.

"Come forward."

Aelin was as docile as a lamb, while the guards remained upright, their backs and necks held high. The two approached the table and saw the Miracle Walker stand up, reach out, and gently stroke the heads of the two children, one tall and one short.

His hands were strong and broad, soothing and dispelling all fear and anger.

"Do you willingly follow me?"

“Yes, my lord,” said Alinin, and the guard beside him nodded in agreement.

“Then I will keep my promise.” He took out a wooden box from his pocket, selected two brain-computer interfaces from it, and gently pressed them between the two men’s eyebrows.

Ai Lining sighed silently, helpless. She felt something cold moving and spreading inside her skull, the chill seeping into her hair. Then, a plump white silkworm appeared in her vision.

In her daze, she heard a faint voice whispering a name in a strange tone.

“Remember, never reveal this secret again. Except to the most important people.” Miracle Walker chuckled and patted their heads. “Alright, go now.”

Lin Bo looked at Kochen Ancher, "The people of White Stone Island all need brain-computer interfaces, starting with Jinbei. Go and arrange the free clinic activities, but don't let it disrupt everyone's lives and work."

"Yes, my lord."

Mushroom Garden is working at full capacity to produce brain-computer interfaces. At the same time, Lin Bo has also mobilized the fungal carpet in the [Conquest Chessboard] plane. When he enters the instance again, he will be able to harvest tens of millions of finished brain-computer interfaces, enough to make everyone in the Kening Empire a prosthetic user.

(End of this chapter)