You don't even want to call me godfather

In the Rhine Life Laboratory, looking at Mondragon being carried onto the operating table by several researchers in the operating room, Koshe couldn't help but ask Ferdinand beside him.

At this point, he was almost accustomed to this kind of thing.

"Although I didn't expect you to show up, it's okay to tell you about this, Mr. Cascade," Ferdinand smiled, as if he didn't intend to hide anything from Koshe. "As you said, this is also an experimental project, but the difference is that this is a project I'm in charge of, the 'prosthetic' experiment."

"But, since Mondragon is an experimental subject of your Rhine Life, why... does he call himself the president's bodyguard?"

Koshe frowned slightly. Since he came to Colombia, the various things he witnessed, although not major, were also very puzzling.

"Early after the President contacted us at Rhine Life, the prosthetic experiment was already on the agenda. The Miss Shipka you took away a few days ago was supposed to be the subject of the prosthetic experiment, but at this time eight years ago, my influence was not as great as Parvis's, so a rare subject was snatched away by that old guy, and in the end, the result was tepid." When talking about influence, Ferdinand showed a confident smile on his face, but he quickly suppressed his emotions and continued to explain, "So, the subject of the prosthetic experiment had to be temporarily changed, that is, Mondragon in front of you."

"But I still don't quite understand what the prosthetic experiment is."

Looking at Mondragon who was unconscious on the other side of the glass wall, Koshe continued to ask.

"Take a candle for example," Ferdinand gave a clever example to Koche's question. "Since it will burn out one day, it hopes to have the opportunity to burn as much as possible. For such a person who is eager to die, what do you think the people around her will say to her?"

"You mean...Mondragon?"

Koshe turned his head and looked at Ferdinand who was looking up slightly beside him.

"Besides joining the battle, there is no other way to confirm her existence. Even if we persuade her not to continue burning herself, it will only become a denial of her existence." Ferdinand did not answer, but implicitly agreed with Koshe's words, "The one I know is this kind of person."

“…How clumsy.”

"But just like the rest of us, we can't easily give up this kind of lifestyle that we think we have to live this way, even if it's painful," Ferdinand smiled and shook his head, as if he was mocking himself, or perhaps referring to someone else. "But, that's why I still told her that there is such a life, living for others. Even if it's just a faint light, there are still people who hope that the candlelight can burn for a long time."

"So, the purpose of the prosthetic experiment is to prolong the burning time of the candle, right?" Koshe roughly understood something from Ferdinand's words. He speculated, "From living for something to living for someone, changing her lifestyle also changed her life."

"As expected of you," Ferdinand clapped his hands, as if he was surprised by the correctness of Koshe's speculation. He continued to explain, "Yes, the original intention of the prosthetic experiment is to save those who have lost their direction or lost their ability to live due to accidents. A new life is prepared."

"Whoo-"

At this moment, a sound of electric current came into Koshe's ears. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a researcher covering Mondragon's head with a device and then began to give him electric shocks.

Mondragon's unconscious body trembled with the electric shock.

"To this end, in order to make these people in need forget their tragic past and to keep the candle burning, we have to use some extraordinary means to help them get a new life." At this point, Ferdinand finally said the core part of the prosthetic experiment. "We will change their appearance, erase their past, and give them new memories and necessary knowledge. We will lock a 'restriction' in their brains so that they can regard the designated object as their goal for survival. This is the ultimate goal of the 'prosthetic' experiment, an artificial change, a two-way salvation, and an ending that satisfies everyone."

Chapter 87: Impeccable

Looking at Ferdinand who was talking about human modification and brainwashing so righteously, Koshe's brows furrowed even more tightly.

Maybe Christen was wrong. The people gathered in Rhine Life were not dreamers, they were just pure scientific lunatics.

Even Ferdinand, whom he originally thought was relatively normal compared to Parvez, was so crazy.

"I know what you're thinking, Mr. Cascade," Ferdinand, perhaps noticing Koche's expression, restrained his slightly agitated tone and restored his gentle appearance, "Are you thinking that I'm also a lunatic who disregards human rights? But the reality is not like that. For all the subjects who undergo prosthetic experiments, we obtain their consent before conducting the experiments, including Mondragon."

"…Do they know the details of the experiment?"

Hearing this, Koshe was silent for a while before asking.

"I told them that they would forget all the misfortunes and sorrows, and only have beautiful memories and gain power that they could not imagine," Ferdinand smiled, as if he thought what he did was impeccable. "They were originally dust, but I gave them the opportunity to shine. It was me who gave them new goals in life and the power to fight for them."

Ferdinand's words made Koshe unable to tell for a moment whether his behavior was good or evil.

But no matter what its nature is, the only thing Koshe is sure of is that he does not like this experiment that is difficult to distinguish between good and evil.

"If we only divide the nature of a thing into good and evil, then it would be too superficial, Mr. Cascade," Ferdinand said once again, as if he could see through Koche's thoughts, "most of the time, evil and good can coexist, or rather, they have to coexist."

"No matter how much you say, black will never turn white, Ferdinand."

Koshe certainly understood this simple truth. He was not a saint. He was also a good person who could do evil, so he could naturally see through the essence of some things.

"I have never thought of denying anything, whether it is the evaluation of others or my own internal friction, these will not become obstacles for me to move forward. From the beginning, I know what I am doing." Ferdinand's attitude was also very clear. He did not refute Koche's words, but accepted this accusation and deepened his own ideas. "And similarly, I believe that one day, you will understand me. As for now..."

Ferdinand stopped talking halfway, looked at the researcher who was signaling to him in the operating room, and nodded.

Then, the door of the operating room slowly opened, he walked in first, and turned his head to Koshei and said -

"For now, please experience for yourself the infinite possibilities brought about by prosthetic experiments, Mr. Cascade."

……

"Beginning to enter the third level of hypnosis."

"The EEG is good."

"Preparation for stimulating nerve current is complete."

“Take your time and proceed with caution.”

Koshe followed Ferdinand into the operating room. At this time, the scientific researchers were gathered around Mondragon, carrying out deep brainwashing.

"Mondragon was originally brainwashed into a 'soldier' ​​for the president, right?" Koshe asked as he watched a researcher insert a syringe filled with light blue liquid into the IV tube connected to Mondragon's neck. "She gave up her original life and tried to get a new life through prosthetic experiments, but is this a blessing... or a curse?"

"Mr. Cascade, why do you think Colombia's cutting-edge medical care has been at the forefront of the world in recent years? It's because the technology born in the process of researching prosthetics has quietly returned to society," Ferdinand said again in response to Koshe's doubts, "Although those who become prosthetic experiments are indeed quite unfortunate in a sense-"

“But many people were saved.”

Koche certainly knew what Ferdinand wanted to say, or rather, he felt the same way.

"I'm used to being criticized. Society needs villains to survive," Ferdinand took a deep breath. He looked at Mondragon, then at Koshe, and said, "It would be a sin if you didn't accept this 'favor', Mr. Cascade."

Koshe was speechless.

There is no doubt that Ferdinand was a man of excellent eloquence, and he used this advantage in scientific research, making it impossible for people to find fault with what he did.

Even Koshe couldn't think of anything to refute at the moment. Using justice as a shield for personal desires is indeed an impeccable approach at the ethical level.

"Director Ferdinand," just as Koshe was lost in thought, the researchers had finished their work. One of them raised his arms to wipe the sweat from his forehead and said to Ferdinand wearing a medical mask, "The operation has been completed according to your requirements. Please proceed with the test."

Upon hearing this, Ferdinand raised one hand and waved it forward.

The researchers understood, and they removed the needles from Mondragon's body one by one and took measures to stop the bleeding. Then one of them began to use light to stimulate her while she was in a coma.

Soon, affected by the strong light, Mondragon slowly opened his eyes.

Koshe, who was standing nearby, noticed that Mondragon, who had just woken up, had a dimmer look in her eyes than when he saw her in the presidential palace before.

It could even be said that he was godless, looking at the researchers in front of him like a puppet being manipulated by others.

"tell me your name."

The researcher turned off the flashlight and took off his mask so that his voice could be heard more clearly in Mondragon's ears.

"Mondragon... Prosthetic neuromechanical experiment subject, XA-1-01," Mondragon mechanically answered the researcher's question, then suddenly turned his gaze and fixed it on Koshei who was standing in front of the operating table, "I... am loyal to Koshei Cascade."

"The reset of 'Constraints' has been completed. All memories except the necessary ones have been deleted." Seeing that Mondragon's reaction was within expectations, the researcher stood up and said to Ferdinand while taking off his medical gloves, "According to your request, we changed her original allegiance from Delier Osvid to Koshe Cascade. You can ask questions freely in the next period of time. The follow-up procedures have been completed and she can be taken away at any time."

"So, what do you think about this now, regarding the technology of prosthetic experiments in the field of human brain," Ferdinand suggested to the silent Koshe after all the researchers had left, "or you can try to talk to her first. I believe that after experiencing it yourself, you will understand the greatness of this experiment even without verbal explanation."