Chapter 262: Can the Treatment Be Stopped, Ai Lei?

The identities of humans and machines have now been reversed.

The supposedly cold machines are constantly talking about plans for the future.

The supposedly passionate humans are quietly listening all along.

Should we shatter that impossible delusion?

Xu Xi didn’t do that.

He reached out, gently stroking the Mechanical Servant’s hair: “Sorry, Ailei, for troubling you to take care of me at such a time.”

The sense of touch is fading, vision is blurring, even the heartbeat can no longer be felt.

The so-called cure is fundamentally impossible.

Injured bodies can be treated.

But a body that has already “died” cannot be healed.

Xu Xi forced a smile, a sense of emptiness enveloping him, as he stroked Ailei’s head with a gentle gesture.

“From the beginning, it has always been Ailei helping me, now that I think about it, I really feel bad.”

He did not reveal the cruel truth.

Xu Xi just recalled the past in a hoarse voice.

The Underground Laboratory.

The activation of RTX-9090.

The camera looking up at the starry sky.

The successful capture of the first Satellite City.

Memories that should be blurry, yet flashed through Xu Xi’s mind in clear frames.

In a daze, he seemed to touch the familiar laboratory again, wiping the camera.

“Master…”

Until Ailei’s voice came.

Only then did Xu Xi realize he had fallen into some kind of fantasy.

He apologized again: “Sorry, Ailei, my current state must be troubling you.”

He forced a smile, empty, devoid of warmth.

No.

It’s not like that…

As long as it’s you…

The trembling of the Mechanical Servant was no longer just in the eyes, with the core power device overheating, the entire metal body emitted chaotic sounds.

“You don’t need to worry, no matter what you become, Ailei will serve you.”

Always and forever.

“I am a heartless machine, tireless, painless, you can use me without hesitation.”

The trembling of the body, along with the voice module, showed human-like fluctuations.

It sounded like a lament.

“It has always been Ailei helping me, hasn’t it?”

“From the wasteland of the old Federation to now, compared to myself, Ailei’s contribution is actually the greatest.”

“Ailei, you have grown so well, no longer a heartless machine.”

Xu Xi’s movements slowed.

His hand lightly rested on Ailei’s head, gradually losing strength.

He joked that if divided by ability, Ailei, with infinite computing power, should be the real “human.”

Advancing to push technological development.

Retreating to implement civilization cycles.

Compared to Ailei’s computing and observational abilities, Xu Xi felt he was dim.

Speaking, Xu Xi expressed his gratitude to Ailei again in a gentle manner, always helping the not-so-outstanding him.

Such words, such a voice, even the inherently emotionless Mechanical Servant could feel something was wrong.

“You… don’t need to worry.”

“This is what I should do…”

Not just the commands set in the underlying logic, making Ailei obey Xu Xi’s words.

The passage of time.

Mutual companionship.

Had already warmed the cold Machine Soul.

Subconsciously, wanting to always accompany that figure who would wipe away the blur for her.

But this precious warmth was dissipating bit by bit before her eyes…

Ailei subconsciously glanced at the data panel of the Treatment Pod, wanting to help Xu Xi with treatment, to make him stand again.

But Xu Xi’s voice.

Stopped the Mechanical Servant.

“Ailei, can you help me… turn it off…”

“Cough… cough…”

The weak Xu Xi, unable to operate it himself, asked the loyal Mechanical Servant to help turn off the Treatment Pod that was sustaining his life.

Yes.

Not to continue treatment, but to completely turn it off.

Even though the Mechanical Servant is obedient, loyal, facing such a command, it was still stunned in disbelief.

Why?

Xu Xi saw such confusion from the damaged mechanical face.

“Although it’s hard to understand, lying in the Treatment Pod makes me uncomfortable.”

Xu Xi smiled emptily.

His condition is now very special, silent death has eroded most of his body and mind, infinitely approaching the abyss of death.

The Treatment Pod that restores normal people to health.

For Xu Xi.

Has become a silent torment.

Not only can it not prevent death, but it also repeatedly intensifies the void, causing Xu Xi’s body and mind to be deeply consumed by the void.

In such a state, it’s better to face it calmly.

“I… I can’t…”

“This command violates the second regulation, it will harm your life.”

“Rejected, cannot execute.”

The light in the mechanical eyes flickered at high frequency.

Rejecting Xu Xi’s words.

Ailei’s voice had never been so urgent, trembling as if calm:

“Your body needs treatment, your physical condition is severely declining, I must ensure your safety.”

“Please rest assured, the treatment will be over soon.”

“You will get better…”

The Mechanical Servant began to cite various medical cases, wanting to use scientific data, theoretical explanations, to argue the possibility of successful treatment.

But gradually.

The Mechanical Servant’s voice became fainter.

Until it was completely silent.

She saw Xu Xi’s pain, clearly on the brink of death, yet repeatedly pulled back by the Treatment Pod, experiencing that despairing void over and over.