The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 131

"The unfortunate Baron Eberl had not received an invitation to the ball, but he bribed the guards and snuck in. Given his financial state, he likely hoped to meet some wealthy individuals at the ball, seeking their fleeting friendship to alleviate his debts.

"Don't be surprised. Many nobles are like him. They failed to keep up with the times and still relied on their ancestors' wealth, slowly dying under heavy taxes."

Arthur watched the baron's retreating figure. Baron Eberl stared ahead blankly, his soul utterly sealed away.

"He encountered a demon directly. The corruption was fierce. By the time we found him, he was already in the second stage, completely insane and highly aggressive. The corruption continued to act on him. Demonization was just a matter of time."

"So you performed that... frontal lobotomy?" Lloyd asked cautiously. He didn't understand the procedure exactly, but seeing a person's mind reduced to a corpse-like state was as terrifying as the demons.

"Yes, through the frontal lobe," Arthur said, pointing to his own forehead. "With a brain-protein excision needle, starting from the upper eye socket, the needle is driven into the brain, quickly severing the nerve fibers."

"The surgery is swift and doesn't even require an operating room. The destroyed nerves handle advanced thinking. After the surgery, the person loses the concept of 'thought' and 'thinking.' If humanity's resistance to demonic corruption had a value, this surgery would nullify it."

"Like a blind person unafraid of bright light, someone who has lost the concept of thinking would no longer be polluted by the corruption. They're not even human anymore, just a breathing corpse."

Cruel and dark, Lloyd could glimpse the evil in Arthur's words. How many heads had been opened to prove the reliability of this surgery?

"This is the best solution we have now. Otherwise, for those like Baron Eberl on the verge of demonization, our only other option is complete extermination."

"I understand," Lloyd said lightly. The initial shock and fear gave way to a resigned understanding. They were all travelers on thin ice, constantly discarding things to avoid breaking the fragile surface.

Emotions, humanity, morality... until they had nothing left, until they reached the ideal land.

"Sometimes, evil decisions bring good results, and we must bear those sins," Arthur said softly, his words seemingly weightless despite their heavy nature.

"And what about your own men? Do they also undergo this surgery when they lose control?" Lloyd asked again.

"It depends. Each soldier has an alarm installed. When it goes off, they should leave the battlefield. Of course, some venture too deep, but these tasks are usually for specialized knights who can withstand more corruption."

"We also have corresponding healing measures. For instance, Baron Eberl still has a slim chance of survival, but his value doesn't warrant such measures."

Cold and merciless, everything had a price tag, with no sympathy, running with mechanical precision. Lloyd looked at Arthur, then at Joey behind him. They had long made such decisions.

"Mr. Holmes, this incident is clearly beyond our control. We don't need to be wary of each other anymore, right?" Arthur gave Lloyd a deep look. Without saying much, they reached a mutual understanding.

"Joey, push faster. Mr. Holmes has a lot to see today," Arthur urged. The wheelchair moved faster, and Lloyd endured the pain in his leg to keep up.

"What do you want me to see?"