northernbook Chapter 204 This isn't a mental hospital, it's a server room
Chapter 204 This isn't a mental hospital, it's a server room
The Third People's Hospital of Changxiang City is more commonly referred to by locals as "the Third Hospital".
This place may be just an inconspicuous coordinate on a map, but it is a frequently used word in the daily conversations of the citizens of Changsha.
"You didn't run away from the Third Hospital, did you?" — This is the highest praise used to describe someone whose behavior and logic are different from ordinary people.
Two days later, Wang Minyu and his group stood openly at the entrance of this legendary hospital.
Qin Zheng's influence is indeed considerable.
Using his connections, he managed to secure a three-day "visiting scholar" pass for Wang Minyu's team under the pretext of "experiencing life in depth and finding material for the new film."
Wang Minyu's identity is "Special Psychological Consultant", Su Qing is "Data Analysis Assistant", Guan Shan is "Security Guard and Driver", and as for Pierre... his identity is the most outrageous - "Michelin Three-Star Nutritional Diet Therapy Expert".
"Why am I dressed like this?" Pierre awkwardly tugged at his pristine white chef's uniform, on which was embroidered a line of French text in gold thread—"Napoleon in the Kitchen."
"To convince them that we are professional," Wang Minyu said, wearing a brand-new white coat and, unusually, carrying a leather briefcase instead of a stainless steel tea mug. "A professional team must have professional logistical support. And a professional mental hospital must have excellent food."
A middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses stood at the hospital entrance, his expression so serious it looked like he had just attended his own funeral.
"I'm Liu Guodong, the vice president here." He extended his hand, shook hands with Qin Zheng, and then turned his gaze to Wang Minyu with a scrutinizing look. "Advisor Wang, I've long admired your name. I heard you cured the community's flu with a bowl of herbal tea?"
"I only heard that from others." Wang Minyu shook hands with him and felt that the other person's hand was like ice. "Dean Liu's hands are very cold. It's because he works in a constant temperature environment for a long time, which causes poor peripheral nerve circulation. I suggest soaking his feet in hot water more often and using air conditioning less."
Liu Guodong's expression changed slightly, and he subtly withdrew his hand.
"Advisor Wang truly lives up to his reputation."
He led everyone into the hospital.
Surprisingly, it wasn't as gloomy and oppressive as I had imagined.
The campus was spotless, the greenery was trimmed as if measured with a ruler, and there was a faint smell of Lysol in the air.
The patients, dressed in matching blue and white striped hospital gowns, strolled on the lawn or played chess in the activity room, their expressions calm, even serene.
"The patients here seem to be in stable condition," Su Qing said in a low voice in the team channel. She was wearing a pair of specially made glasses, with lines of data flashing rapidly across the lenses.
"Zero, analysis results," Wang Minyu replied in the channel.
"Boss, something's not right." Zero's voice sounded somewhat confused. "I scanned thirty samples, and their brainwaves... were too flat. Not the calm of a normal person, but the kind of blankness that comes after being formatted. No joy, no anger, no sorrow, no happiness. Like, like a group of humanoid plants."
This is not a mental hospital.
This is a giant server room.
These patients are the hard drives that have been emptied of all "junk files".
"Our hospital's treatment philosophy is 'eradication'," Liu Guodong said, seemingly noticing the confusion in the crowd. He introduced the hospital with an almost fanatical pride in his voice. "We don't advocate using medication to suppress emotions. Instead, we use the most advanced 'brainwave synchronous resonance technology' to help patients find the 'root cause' of their emotions, and then... pull it out."
"Remove them?" Wang Minyu raised an eyebrow. "Does Dean Liu mean to turn people into emotionless machines?"
"Machines are the most efficient and rational form of technology." Liu Guodong pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light. "The reason humans suffer is because they are burdened by all sorts of useless emotions. Love, hatred, jealousy, greed... these are all 'viruses' in the brain. Only by clearing them away can humanity achieve true and lasting peace."
madman.
Wang Minyu made his own assessment in his mind.
This is a madman even more pure than the S Organization and the Summit Creatures.
Because he wasn't doing it for profit; he genuinely believed that everything he did was to "save the world."
"Consultant Wang, now that you're here, would you be interested in taking a tour of our core treatment area?" Liu Guodong extended an invitation.
"I couldn't have gotten it."
The core area is Building A, which is under lockdown.
The elevator descended, penetrating deep underground.
As the floor numbers decreased, the air temperature dropped, and the smell of formaldehyde mixed with old ore became increasingly strong.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a huge, circular underground space.
This place doesn't look like a laboratory; it's more like an... altar.
In the center of the space is a circular pit with a diameter of more than 20 meters.
At the edge of the deep pit, twelve researchers in white lab coats stood at equal intervals, their faces expressionless, like a row of sculptures.
At the bottom of the pit, instead of soil, there was a slowly pulsating crystal that emitted a faint blue light.
Countless thick black cables extended from the crystal, connecting to rows of sophisticated instruments on the surrounding walls.
More numerous, fine, spiderweb-like white mycelia spread upwards along the walls, eventually converging into a huge, heart-shaped black tumor on the ceiling.
That tumor is the signal transmitter of the "father".
The blue crystals at the bottom of the pit are its "CPU".
A man in a hospital gown was strapped to a metal operating chair and suspended directly above the crystals.
Countless tiny probes emerged from a metal helmet on his head and pierced his scalp.
His eyes were closed, his face was gaunt, but his chest was still rising and falling slightly.
He is the "processor".
Upon seeing the man, Qin Zheng trembled violently and let out a suppressed gasp: "Old...Old Zhang?"
He was one of his friends who went on an adventure with him ten years ago. He was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, admitted to the Third Hospital, and then disappeared without a trace.
"Quiet." Liu Guodong glanced coldly at Qin Zheng. "Don't disturb 'God's' thoughts."
"God?" Wang Minyu stared at the strange blue crystal. "This is the 'radical therapy' you mentioned? Treating the patient's brain like an external hard drive, downloading their emotions and memories into this 'server' to feed you, this so-called 'god'?"
"It's not about feeding, it's about 'fusion'!" Liu Guodong spread his arms wide, his expression fervent. "They will be purified here, their thoughts will merge into a greater consciousness, freeing them from the shackles of the body and granting them true immortality! And this great consciousness will establish a new world of absolute rationality and absolute order!"
"And what about you?" Wang Minyu asked, "Are you going to be the administrator of the new world, or the first one to upload it?"
Liu Guodong's expression froze for a moment.
"I am the guide."
"I understand." Wang Minyu nodded. "He's a pyramid scheme leader."
He took something wrapped in layers of newspaper from his briefcase.
"Dean Liu, as a psychology consultant, I have to remind you of something." Wang Minyu slowly unwrapped the newspaper, revealing what was inside—a high-energy battery with two thick wires connected to it. "Your 'server' seems to have a bug."
"What bug?" Liu Guodong frowned.
"It seems... a bit unstable." Wang Minyu gently touched the ends of the two wires.
"Sizzle!"
A blinding blue arc of electricity exploded between the two.
"For example, it seems... not very shockproof."
Liu Guodong's expression changed drastically. He was about to call for the security guards when he realized that the elevator doors behind him had already closed silently.
From the shadows at the four corners of the circular space, four people wearing white coats slowly emerged.
Guan Shan was carrying his green entrenching tool.
Pierre put on a gas mask and carried a high-pressure sprayer, the contents of which were unknown.
Su Qing took off her glasses, holding an electromagnetic pulse device that flashed red light in each hand.
Qin Zheng was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.
The twelve researchers, who looked like statues, turned their heads in unison, their empty eyes staring at Wang Minyu.
On their necks, beneath their skin, black veins began to bulge, intertwining into intricate geometric patterns.
"Advisor Wang," Liu Guodong's voice turned cold, "I used to admire you. Unfortunately, you chose the most foolish path."
"There's more than one road, but the one you chose is stuck in traffic." Wang Minyu put the battery on the ground and stretched his wrists.
"Today, I, as a psychological consultant, will give you 'internet-addicted teenagers' a free, maximum-dose... Yang Yongxin-style treatment."