death of hope

Chapter 987 "Psionic Storm" (62) Lies and Madness

High-tech industrial park
Shin-Sapporo Psychic Research Institute (a wholly owned subsidiary of Sakura Corporation).

Deep underground, a secret research facility.
Area B14, main research lab
Yuna Jinguji lay flat on the operating table (actually an autopsy table), her body covered with a dense array of electrodes and data cables.

A massive phased-array CT scanner was aimed at her brain, emitting an increasingly piercing buzzing sound as the power increased.

A dozen doctors (actually psionic experts) wearing radiation-proof lead aprons surrounded the area, bustling about. Some were moving supplies, some were operating equipment, some were staring intently at a wall of monitors, and some were injecting medicine into IV bottles.

·
Today's test focused on the relationship between the nervous system and psychic energy. Different types of high-power radiation were used to stimulate the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, brainstem, pineal gland, and spinal cord of the Zero-type talent, and psychic energy waveforms were measured and plotted under different conditions.
This is a rather cruel test that tramples on the most basic human rights.
The experiment requires injecting large amounts of neurotoxic chemicals into the test subjects, keeping them in a state of light coma and semi-consciousness throughout the process, and directly stimulating the nervous system. The resulting pain far exceeds that of a cesarean section or amputation, and even the most advanced anesthetics cannot alleviate this pain.

"Next step: beta-ray stimulation of temporal lobe area 13. Ready... Go!"

As the machine's power increased again, Yuna Jinguji's doll-like beautiful face contorted into a distorted shape, her mouth twisted, her eyes slanted, and her eyes rolled back.
Her long, flowing, gilded hair suddenly stood on end like a hedgehog's quills, her mouth drained of color, and she emitted mournful howls.
"Ugh...no...my head hurts so much...it feels like it's going to split open...my body keeps switching between hot and cold..."

Yuna instinctively struggled in pain, her slender hands and feet firmly bound by restraints.

The head restraints weren't too tight, allowing the head to rotate slightly, which caused the equipment readings to deviate, creating chaos in the lab.

·
"Beep beep beep! Warning!"

"Several alarm lights on the instruments have come on! My heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and electrolytes are all abnormal."

"Adrenaline shot!"

"A lot of gibberish is appearing in the psionic readings; the voltage in the lab is unstable!"

"Teacher! With her moving around like that... the test can't continue, the equipment's going to explode..."

The institute's director, Joseph, turned around and shouted at the young man waiting in the corner of the laboratory:
"Xiao Li! What are you standing there for?! Do something!"

"Sorry... I was just spacing out..."

Anti-psychic expert Leon Vilnius quickly apologized to the director, rushed over, and knelt beside the instrument, taking Zero's trembling little hand in his:
"Miss Yuna! Calm down! Take a deep breath! Moving around like this won't help!"

"Tetsuya...kun?"

"Yes! I'm here! Don't be afraid! Just hang in there a little longer and the treatment will be over. If you behave well, I'll treat you to chocolate ice cream tonight!"

"it is good…"

·
The effect was immediate. The Zero Talent gripped Li Ang's large hand tightly, seemingly drawing immense spiritual power from it, gritting his teeth and enduring the discomfort without moving.

"OK! The garbled text is gone! Begin recalibrating psionic readings!"

"Last step: stimulate the pineal gland with gamma rays and read the psionic fluctuation value. Li! Focus! Don't mess this up!"

Li Ang whispered, "Shh...don't call me that...it'll give us away..."

"Sorry, I forgot, cough cough!"

Tetsuya Yamagami! As a family member of the patient, you need to comfort her and keep her calm. Otherwise, the treatment won't be effective. Bitter medicine is good for the disease; this is all for her own good, understand?!

"clear."

Li Ang held Yuna's small hand, took out a handkerchief with his other hand, and gently wiped away the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, speaking in a tone as if coaxing a child.

"Yuna is amazing! She's such a strong and wonderful girl. Stay conscious, don't faint, perseverance is key to victory! Keep going!"

"Teruya-kun spent so much money on me... I won't let him down..."

Although Yuna is a delicate and sickly girl, she is born with a fierce spirit. She is gentle to others but ruthless to herself. She bites her teeth until they bleed, stubbornly holding on with her willpower.

·
Five minutes later, the test was a complete success.
The project team obtained valuable data. Talent Zero could no longer hold on and fainted from the pain. Joseph patted Leon on the shoulder:

"Well done, Li! Your acting is quite good."

"Uh...it's nothing...it's just my job..."

"Excessive modesty is just arrogance, you know. Um, how about we work overtime tonight? Zero's well-being is crucial for the project team; you need to play your role well." "Even if you hadn't reminded me… I would have voluntarily worked overtime…after all, I just promised her…"

"Hey, good lad, you're sure to achieve great things in the future!"

Joseph glanced at his watch, then turned to the students who were packing up their equipment and said:
"Take a quick break, then we'll have a meeting in half an hour to prepare the PowerPoint presentation and review the data we extracted today."

The researchers, exhausted and with aching backs, frowned and pouted when they heard they had to work overtime again, but thankfully their protective suits covered their expressions.

"Okay...teacher..."

·
The researchers went about their own business, and the crowded laboratory quickly became empty. Li Ang still held Zero's hand, unwilling to let go for a long time.

Even though she had been tortured to the point of unconsciousness, he still couldn't bear to let go; a strong sense of guilt pounded against his conscience like a hammer.
(I'm sorry... I can't turn back now...)
Since joining the company, Li Ang's lying skills have improved by leaps and bounds, reaching the level of a master of thick-skinned cunning without even blushing or skipping a beat.
It was clearly a horrific human experiment, yet they deceived the young woman by claiming that they had spent a fortune hiring a top-notch medical team to treat her. The woman was completely fooled and even felt grateful to them.

Despite being an exiled nobleman's illegitimate son, he took advantage of Zero's amnesia to impersonate her lover, a long-deceased young master of the underworld.

Day after day, he lies and deceives this poor, lonely girl.
For the honor-conscious nobles of Iks, this was an absolute disgrace.
(Do I... have any other choice...?)
My heart is already numb.

Li Ang looked at the gleaming stainless steel medical tray on the table; his reflection looked much older.
The former Prince Iks, the heroic young man who fought against the Eldar pirates,

They have degenerated into greasy social scum who will stop at nothing, hypocritical and depraved to this extent, with a head full of bad ideas and a mouth full of nonsense.

(First, I engaged in a dishonorable profession, then I stole someone else's identity, and then I deceived someone's feelings... Will I fall so low as to sell my soul to the devil next...?)

But besides this...where else is there any other chance to turn things around...I pity others, but who pities me...?

In this corrupt world, it's always the wicked who prosper and the good who suffer. Stop resisting; if you can't win, join them...

Since I've made up my mind to go all the way... why do I still feel so choked up inside...?
·
Leon Vilnius, with extremely gentle and considerate, yet somewhat eerie, movements, untied the straps binding Zero's hands and feet, loosened the head restraint, combed his hair, and wiped away his sweat.
His movements and expressions were somewhat morbid, and his mind had become twisted and contorted due to long-term repression;

(It seems that everything in this world is an illusion, only this is real.)

Yuna Ayuna…

From the first glance,
I've fallen in love with you...

How much merit did Yamagami Tetsuya accumulate in his past life to deserve such good fortune... and receive your favor...?

I'm actually envious of that deadbeat... I long to be him, what's wrong with me...?

Am I crazy...?

How could someone deceive, exploit, and harm another person, yet still love that person...?

What am I thinking about...?

Is it psychic energy or radiation...? Is there something wrong with my mind...?
·
Leon Vilnius's expression was contorted, his brow furrowed, yet a smile played at the corners of his mouth. He stood frozen in place, as if possessed, staring intently at Zero's face.

In my entire life... I've never been with any girl...

But you…

My light of life

My burning desire

My sins,

My soul…

Miss Yuna…

God…

Forgive me…)
·
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(The ending of this chapter is inspired by Vladimir Nabokov's novel "Lolita".)