District 42-Chapter 363: New consciousness

Casper was flabbergasted about what happened in front of him. His jaw was dropped and he didn’t even blink at that scene.

Although he thought that he would surely destroy that office if the worst happened, he got so shocked that his mind went blank.

"What... What the hell did you do?" He spoke. It was meant to be a shout, but his voice was weak.

His only creation on that world, one of the few things that he could be proud of, and also his partner, got shut down in front of him.

Yanke was made to not get turned off or run out of energy by any means. He could spend several decades utilizing high quantities of Indigo Energy, even amounts that would be enough to supply the entire Castle, and even so continue functioning.

Casper made sure that the robot was self-sufficient by all means. He really struggled on that part because, as far as he knew at the time, all the robots in District 42, particularly the ones that could work by themselves, spent a lot of energy.

The concept behind Yanke’s existence was already something that surely would consume a lot of Indigo, so it was a must for him to have high reserves and an efficient way to recharge himself all the time. It was something like supplying an entire network of neurons and neurotransmitters working at the same time and nonstop.

Because of that, Casper could suppose that something bad happened when he shut down all of a sudden. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He didn’t know exactly what kind of thing the Forger did on his partner, but it probably went wrong.

Casper kept switching his gaze from Yanke to Wayland, not knowing what to say.

He got surprised when he realized that Wayland was smiling all that time, even after what happened to the little robot.

Until now, the soldier was sure that the man was a good person. He analyzed him carefully all the time, so he couldn’t be mistaken. Wayland didn’t show any trace of malice, nor expressed anything that denounced that he was bluffing.

He could only overcome Casper’s analysis if he was some sort of master in deceptiveness.

"Don’t worry, White warrior. It is part of your gift. Just put the mask on now." While he said it, the soldier kept looking at his face intently. However, not a single muscle of his face displayed any trace of malice or deception.

The man was talking seriously, he didn’t intend to harm Casper.

’I was a spy of the Yanke Forces. I did a lot of missions throughout my career. Interrogatory and investigation were a must in basically all missions. I am used to dealing with the most stubborn and clever people in the world. Any technique to hide his real intentions should be grasped by me right away.’

"Put your mask, Casper. I am not intending to do anything bad. You will understand me when you do so."

The soldier was hesitant, but he trusted Wayland... or, rather, he trusted his own judgment. The man didn’t have reasons to do all these things against him at that moment, because Casper could just kill him any time he wanted.

Also, the soldier never really showed that he was fond of the robot. For most people in the district, it would be meaningless to see a robot getting destroyed. It wasn’t such a big deal for them.

’Even if he is trying to do something bad with me, why wouldn’t he do it by using straightforward methods? He could easily elaborate something to kill me. If the objective was such, then I wouldn’t be alive until now.’

After his reasoning, he convinced himself to take the black mask that was always tied to his waist.

Slowly, he approached it from his face. Sweat was running down on his back in anticipation of what would possibly come.

The mask fit his face.

For some seconds, nothing happened.

Casper blinked sometimes, confused.

Then, a blue light invaded his vision, blinding him. He felt a strong pressure on his head that made him fall to his knees.

He felt like someone put several bags of cement on top of his head.

The soldier tried to move his hands to hug his head, but there was no response at all. His arms didn’t even flinch. The same applied to the rest of his body.

He stayed on that same condition for several minutes before all that blue light dissipated and he could see everything around him again.

Casper looked confused toward Wayland. His vision was... different.

[ System initiating ]

[ 0% ]

[ 25%]

[ 75% ]

[ 100% ]

[ Welcome, Master! It is a pleasure to be with you again. ]

Casper nearly jumped from where he was while hearing those things on his head. It wasn’t a shrill voice nor anything like this. It didn’t sound uncomfortable. But it was still strange to be hearing things on his mind all of a sudden.

It didn’t feel like when Yanke talked on his mind. In the latter, it seemed more like receiving an audio message. But now it was like two different people were sharing the same brain.

"Y-Yanke!?" Casper shouted in amazement.

[ That’s right, Master. It’s me. Yanke, but my AI is actualized. Also, my conscience isn’t linked to your mind anymore, but it is part of you now. We are basically the same consciousness. ]

The short explanation of Yanke was already enough for Casper to have a grasp of the situation.

’The masks are the reflection of my soul and consciousness. When the Forger took Yanke’s data and inserted it in its programming, it made him become part of me... It’s a simplistic way to put it, but it will do for now.’

[ As expected from Master, you are always good in understand things that are out of your fields of acknowledgment. ]

Wayland chuckled in the background, drawing Casper’s attention.

"Thank me afterward, if you feel like it. That’s my gift to you. Your very first power in District 42."