manynovel Chapter 546 The Strange Brain
Chapter 546 The Strange Brain
Chapter 546 The Bizarre Brain (Wishing everyone a Happy Year of the Horse)
Mahan's eyes seemed to flash with a sharp light: "Oh! Mr. Leo, that's a very nice name! It's a variation of the word 'pipe,' but you don't seem to know much about lunar language; the usual variations aren't like that."
Leo shrugged: "I changed it according to the customs of the Kingdom language."
"Historians, especially those from the East of the Windless Sea, always like to claim that the people of the Far East migrated from the Permafrost Continent, while the people of the Ancent Continent also like to claim that their homeland is the origin of the Ice People. However, the three regions do have similar word roots. Let's go with what you say. Anyway, it's a name, and we have the right to give it any code name we want."
Upon hearing this, Leo quickly shook his head and said, "No, it's you. This weapon is your achievement. I was just making a suggestion."
“Then I accept the suggestion,” Mahan said, “my respected investor.”
Leo raised an eyebrow and gave Mahan a slight bow as a sign of respect.
Then they asked, "Is it ready for production?"
"If you have enough resources," Mahan said, "Sir, thank you for providing me with very comprehensive research conditions, but the cannon I designed" requires a large amount of materials, especially metal.
"From what I understand, the ship only has enough finished copper to make three machine guns, not enough to make cannons."
"As you know, the biggest difference between this weapon and the giant crossbow is that it generates a huge amount of heat when it attacks, and wood certainly cannot meet the requirements."
So, we have to wait for the return voyage? — Leo thought — Hmm, then we must avoid encountering any danger at sea.
Alternatively, after returning to the mainland, the ship's onboard workshops can be upgraded.
But for now, we have no choice but to accept this outcome.
Leo nodded: "Then, Mr. Mahan, please make a few more machine guns."
"Oh! The coppersmith and I have developed a tacit understanding. As long as I have a good idea, I can get the finished product very quickly."
“The previous design was already good enough,” Leo said.
"I have two new ideas in my head right now, and I really want to try them out, but—"
Mahan paused, shrugged, and continued, "Sir, perhaps you are right. If it is urgently needed, it is best to produce the finished product as soon as possible. My two ideas are not easy to implement. Oh, by the way, sir, I plan to design an assembly line. I wonder if you have been to the factory in Parliament City? It is a production facility designed for efficiency."
"Go with your plan," Leo nodded. "I might add two more escort ships later, but at the very least, I will equip all the people on this ship with weapons."
"As you command, Mr. Investor."
Mahan placed his hand on his chest and bent slightly forward.
Leo nodded and immediately began searching for Shirley in the room.
Last time, Shirley used a gun to kill a creature that crawled through the water.
From that moment on, Leo realized that Shirley, who was usually reliable, calm and collected, also had another side.
When she encounters research that interests her, a special light immediately appears in her eyes.
It seems she, like Mahan, is a research fanatic.
As Leo had predicted, Shirley was currently engrossed in her research.
Right now, the room is not only filled with the stench of money, but also the smell of fish and blood, and even the stench of rotting meat.
Shirley was sitting at a desk under the window, with various strange internal organs laid out on the desk.
She was using a small knife to cut one of them open and observe its internal structure.
This is the fifth strange sea creature that Shirley has hunted down.
Once her goal was clear, Shirley's decisiveness even surpassed that of Mahan and Leo.
While she was working, neither Mahan nor Leo dared to disturb her.
Oh, she's really scary when she's angry.
But today, Leo didn't care whether he was angry or not.
Leo said to Mahan, "I have something to say to you and Shirley."
Mahan immediately looked troubled: "Is this really okay? You know, if she gets angry, neither of us will be in good shape."
"It's something very important," Leo said seriously.
Ma Han let out a heavy sigh and nodded, saying, "Alright, I'll go with you—"
The two approached Shirley from behind and called out softly.
No one responded.
Mahan stepped forward and patted Shirley on the shoulder.
In an instant, a sharp knife was thrust in front of Ma Han.
"I told you, don't bother me."
Mahan seemed so frightened that he couldn't utter a word, so Leo quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Miss Shirley, I'm the one who sent Mr. Mahan."
"I was forced onto your ship; that's your crime!"
"I'm very sorry about this—Miss, have you had any recent research findings?"
Hearing Leo bring up this topic, Shirley's expression softened somewhat: "These creatures are entirely new creatures."
Leo asked, "Why do you make that judgment?"
“Brains,” Shirley said, “the brains of these creatures are unlike those of any other animal. They have no wrinkles, no lumps, but are as hard as a diamond, with a long, sharp spike attached.”
Mahan, standing nearby, asked in confusion, "I don't understand biology, what does that mean?"
“Humans are made of flesh, just like other animals,” Shirley explained. “Such a hard brain would probably have difficulty forming coherent and flowing thoughts, that is to say, it would be difficult to think. Even maintaining breathing and a heartbeat would be difficult.”
Leo and Mahan exchanged a glance, and Leo asked, "Doesn't this creature have a heart?"
“Of course it does, which is why I find it so strange,” Shirley said. “If this thing can have a heartbeat, then is it really the brain that controls its heartbeat?”
Leo asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"
"If this brain cannot independently create thoughts and instincts, then what does it depend on for its survival?"
Leo asked, "What are your thoughts?"
“A conjecture,” Shirley said, “a rather far-fetched conjecture.”
"I'm all ears."
“I’m thinking there’s a possibility that might explain the current situation,” Shirley said. “Their thoughts might not originate within their own bodies.”
Mahan immediately raised a question: "If the body cannot generate thoughts, how does it function?"
"Of course, it also relies on thoughts, but these are thoughts outside the body."
"And their brains are only responsible for receiving these thoughts, just like the eyes receive light," Shirley said.
Mahan's eyes widened: "Your idea is really bold."
Shirley shrugged: "But reality is often stranger than imagination."
Seeing that Shirley's emotions had calmed down, Leo took the opportunity to ask his own question.
After recounting the story, Mahan became distressed.
But Shirley countered, "So, you want to find a clear path forward?"
"Yes," Leo said, "but I don't know how."
"No—" Shirley smiled, "You should know that, shouldn't you?"
Leo and Mahan exchanged bewildered glances, puzzled by Shirley's deeper meaning.
Shirley picked up a bloody entrail: "This ship has been overtaken by these creatures many times, and they're heading in the same direction as us. I wonder, why are they heading in that direction?"
Leo was immediately startled: "You mean, these strange creatures are headed to the same place as us?"
"It's clearly abnormal that a creature with a brain that is incapable of thinking would be so obsessed with the same thing."
Leo laughed too: "Then why don't we give it a try!"