From Pittman's attitude, Beltira realized that the "synthetic brain" technology she had created seemed even more important than she had imagined—the Outworld Wanderer, who always thought one step ahead of everyone else, seemed to have seen some broader prospect in this technology, or perhaps... had already arranged some future application for it.
"May I ask something?" After thinking for a moment, she could not help asking curiously, "What do you intend to use these 'brains' for? Surely not just to expand the Psionic Singers and create more mental assistance devices?"
Pittman silently glanced at Beltira. After giving it some thought, he smiled and asked, "Have you seen those rumbling factories?"
"Factories?" Beltira froze for a moment, then nodded. "Of course. Although I can't move now, there are many factories throughout the Sorin Region itself. I've seen factories that produce clothing and metal containers, as well as factories that process wastewater and recycle Mud Monsters... Those machines are impressive."
"Yes, impressive—but perhaps they could become even more impressive," Pittman said, raising his eyebrows. "Those machines are powerful and efficient, but compared with nimble craftsmen, there is still too little they can do, and what they do is too crude. As a Gondor native, you should know how the magical workshops of more than seven hundred years ago operated..."
"You intend to make the machines... learn to think?" Beltira finally understood what Pittman meant, and her eyes widened. "By using those synthetic brains?"
"Not just that. We might even be able to make the factories learn to think," Pittman said with a nod. "Imagine this—a factory is a massive Steel Behemoth, and this Steel Behemoth has a mind. Loyal Wetware Hosts are immersed in a thinking apparatus at the center of the factory. Their neural fibers spread through pipes all over the