Behind the glass curtain wall, the giant machine, which had been silent for less than thirty seconds, began to operate wildly once more.
"Not good! Atifie is calculating again!"
"Someone! Quick, someone come!"
Amidst the worried expressions of the scholars, the metal tubes on either side of the main console once again emitted the puzzled inquiry of Atifei-01.
"If all the wood on a ship is replaced little by little until none of the original wood remains, is the ship still the same one?"
No... What kind of absurd question is this?
Faced with Atifei-01’s puzzling inquiries, in order to calm it down quickly and save energy, the scholars, from various technical disciplines, had to engage in a lively debate, hoping to come up with a somewhat reasonable answer.
However, before they could reach a conclusion, the rumbling sound from the lake suddenly grew louder, and another similarly perplexing question came from the metal tube.
"Question: if there is a barber who only shaves those who cannot shave themselves, can he shave himself?"
Without giving the scholars any time to think, as the rumbling sound of the giant machine grew louder and louder, Atifei-01 again asked dazedly:
"A person who is very skilled at finding joy amidst hardship died from exhaustion, could he possibly have died from joy?"
When the temperature of the lake water reached the warning line, the red lights around the main console lit up in batches, and amid the frantic expressions of the scholars, Atifei-01 asked in slight pain:
"Why do humans suddenly decide they should buy chickens and basketballs after purchasing a pair of suspenders, and feel it’s completely reasonable? What’s the connection between the three?"
Who knows what’s the connection here!
Faced with Atifie’s increasingly incoherent questions, the elite scholars rushing from Research Zone 1, realizing something was wrong, were nearly driven mad.
"Protection mechanism! Quick, activate the protection mechanism!"
Having given up answering those outrageous questions, the person in charge, seeing the flashing red warning lights becoming faster, could only shout at the top of his lungs amid the deafening rumble from the machines in the lake:
"Don’t let it keep calculating! Activate the protection mechanism! Make it skip questions it can’t calculate, just like the other subordinate units!"
After trying to activate the protection mechanism twice with no response, the sweat-drenched operator said in terror:
"Atifie has the highest authority! It refuses to initiate the protection mechanism and wants to call on more computing power!"
"Then disconnect it immediately!"
Grabbing the operator’s collar, his face turning purple, the person in charge roared:
"Disconnect all remote communication technologies! Don’t leave a single one! Seal off Zone 1 temporarily!"
"But if we do that..."
"No buts! Go disconnect the communications immediately! If we’re late, this year’s energy will be calculated away by it!"
"I... I’ll go right away!!!"
Watching the girl who suddenly lowered her head, her slender shoulders starting to tremble slightly, Leon, who was paying for suspenders, couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows slightly.
"What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Or let me ask differently."
Watching her shake like a sieve, yet profoundly devoid of mechanical senses, with a soul free of rigid routine, Leon couldn’t help but inquire with slight anticipation:
"Do you feel a sudden lightness in your mind, a sensation of being released from certain control?"
Not lightness, but I definitely want to be relieved sooner...
Under Leon’s expectant gaze, Feiliya instinctively stepped back half a pace, her beautiful big eyes filled with an inherent fear.
This human... he is really too peculiar!
All the data she had accumulated over the years to cope with human behavior patterns had undergone tens of thousands of validations, absolutely conforming to the human race.
Yet, all those numerous validated items, when applied to this male human before her, seemed entirely inapplicable, none of them could normally apply.
Not only could she not predict his behavior, understand his motives, she couldn’t even hear the feedback calculations after his actions, this is simply...
Hmm? Wait! Could this be what’s called fear?
Felt through, not via any computation but spontaneously generated uncontrollably, a strong impulse to distance herself from this man, Atifie’s big eyes revealed a hint of delight.
Emotion! This is human emotion!
Ah! And there’s more!
This must be the feeling called surprise! These two emotions are not calculated, but rather, influenced by the physical body, spontaneously generated in the soul through the interaction with him! I... I seem to understand humans a bit!
Having discovered the change within herself, Feiliya’s heart was suddenly filled with immense joy, unable to resist looking back up at Leon with eyes brimming with surprise.
Who would have thought that just speaking with him could lead to such great "evolution"! Then if I could stay by him and interact a bit longer...
Seeing the emotion in Leon’s eyes, which was probably called "eager anticipation," Princess Feiliya’s smile froze slightly before she decisively negated her recent reckoning.
Although continuing to interact with him might yield some gains, it feels like something possibly more important could be lost.
Moreover, Zone 1 has temporarily disconnected its Connection with me, so now I’ve lost the main body’s assistance and can’t compute those crazy questions he’s asking. If I keep listening, I fear my brain might burn out!
After taking a deep breath, Princess Feiliya lifted her skirt to perform a standard lady’s bow, then forced a smile as she spoke:
"I’m suddenly feeling unwell, perhaps... perhaps I’ve caught something from Andre’s brother, so if you don’t mind, may I temporarily excuse myself?"
As if fearing Leon might refuse, she hurriedly added:
"I have other brothers and sisters. If Prince would still like someone to accompany him, I can have them come over right away!"
Seeing his target seemingly wanting to leave, Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly, then, amidst Feiliya’s frightened expression, he took a sudden step forward, resolutely grabbing her wrist.
"Don’t be afraid, I’m saving you."
Watching the girl that looked like a deer caught by the forelegs, trying to struggle backward with eyes full of fear, Leon switched on the [Reliable Older Brother] badge to enhance his persuasion while sincerely speaking:
"Though you might not believe it, or feel any abnormality, Princess Feiliya, you have actually been controlled by Atifei-01!"