Chapter 4

Less than a week later, Chloe actually showed up with an identical silver metal ring wrapped around her neck.

On Friday afternoon, she walked into the campus library with her chin held high, purposefully taking the seat right across from Emma and me.

Emma rolled her eyes and whispered, "Unbelievable. Did this copycat rob a bank? How did she afford a hundred and twenty thousand dollar device?"

I kept my head down, flipping through my Microeconomics textbook. "Who knows. I heard there are plenty of shady online payday loan apps catering to desperate students outside campus lately."

Across from us, Chloe straightened her back, clicked her neckband on, and sneered.

"It's just a learning device. Don't project your narrow views on me. If some people can afford it, so can I."

She opened her book, putting on a show of intense concentration.

The mechanical voice echoed.

[Detecting host wearing the same external device. Attempting to sync and analyze data...]

[Analysis failed. Warning: This device does not emit any cognitive enhancement waves. It only possesses basic physical vibration functions.]

Chloe’s hand froze on her page. Her face paled.

She screamed at the system in her mind, "How is that possible? Vivian read three thick books yesterday while wearing it! Your scanner must be broken! I borrowed a hundred and thirty thousand dollars from those online lenders to get this imported!"

To prove to her system that the "god-tier device" worked, she grit her teeth and pushed the massager’s vibration setting to level nine—the absolute maximum.

A loud, piercing hum vibrated through the dead-silent library.

Nearby students frowned, glaring at her.

But Chloe ignored them, keeping her eyes glued to her book.

Exactly twenty minutes later.

Due to her neck muscles being forced into violent, high-frequency spasms, Chloe suddenly let out a blood-curdling shriek.

"Ahhh!"

Her book slammed onto the table. Her neck was completely locked at a bizarre, unnatural angle, tilted sharply to the left.

She reached up to tear the band off, but the acute muscle spasm made even the slightest movement excruciating. Her face contorted in agony.

The librarian rushed over and immediately called 911.

By the time the paramedics arrived to wheel her out on a stretcher, her head was still pinned to her shoulder like a broken puppet. She was groaning in pain the entire way.

[Warning! Host has suffered acute muscle spasms. Learning efficiency for this week has reset to zero.]

[Copycat progress has dropped to 55%.]

[Warning: Host must obtain a core recommendation letter from the Academic Club within three days, or the mission will fail!]