To protect the creativity of the researchers, the mind seeds planted by Murphy in them are "magic contracts" that do not influence free will. As long as the rules within the contract are followed, they are completely free to think.
Therefore, the researchers are able to retain their own unique beliefs, worldviews, and personalities.
This agent Valery, while abiding by the rules, can remain loyal to his country. However, he cannot pledge allegiance to his nation within the confines of the contract's rules.
Murphy pulled up a stool and sat down opposite him.
"Let's talk," Murphy said, waving his hand and releasing the other's mouth, "Valery Lemontov, what exactly is your loyalty?"
"Kill me, I won't say anything," Valery replied, head hanging low.
"Even though you know I've already read your memories, and everything you know has entered my mind, you have essentially betrayed your own country?"
Valery frowned in pain, "I haven't, that's not for me to decide."
"Right, loyalty can be a very subjective concept. So, what is the object of your loyalty?"
Valery didn't speak, but Murphy nodded, "I see, faith. I'm somewhat moved, brother."
"Don't read minds, devil! Is it fun to casually read others' minds?! You peeping tom! It's disgusting!" Valery seemed enraged.
"You're not really angry," Murphy continued reading his mind in real-time, "It's hard for people to fake their emotions, even if you're a master at it. Under high-level mind reading, all your thoughts are as clear as fish swimming on the water's surface. Hiding and disguising are meaningless to me. Let's be more honest; it's easier for both of us."
But as he finished speaking, he read a thought from the other's mind and suddenly reached out, grabbing Valery's chin.
"Suicide is also impossible."
"Ha, hahaha..."
Valery broke down, tears flowing, filled with despair, only wishing for death at this moment.
He is a true believer.
Murphy read from the bottom of his heart that fiery belief, like steel forged a thousand times, shaped by countless trials, doubts, and confirmations, a true enlightenment. Although it seemed a bit dusty, its brilliance was undiminished.
However, his enemy was too powerful.
Facing magic, he couldn't even keep his innermost secrets.
This uncontrollable humiliation and despair made him want to die immediately.
Even now, his loyalty at the bottom of his heart was intact; he just couldn't control being exploited. But he still controlled his soul.
"But, that's just an illusion," Murphy said, "In front of magic, free will is just a fantasy."
"The plague bacillus you stole, you've surely heard of its power to destroy the world, but you probably don't know why."
"Because it's a terrifying thing that can infect people's thoughts and turn them into puppets controlled by the bacteria."
Valery looked up in horror.
As a warrior, he wasn't afraid of death, because physical death isn't the real end. With the power of faith, he still possessed a noble and free soul.
But what if magic could alter his faith?
"You work in the potion research team, you must know that many potions like love potions can change a person's mind. Of course, most of them are temporary, and their effects are mostly false, but I can tell you responsibly that spells that can truly alter the mind do exist."
"My employment confidentiality agreement?" Valery said.
Murphy shrugged, "The secrets here are temporarily unable to be disclosed to the outside world."
Valery fell silent. Whatever, it was no longer something he could control.
He had done his best. If the other party wanted to transform him into a devil against his own country, he could only hope that his former comrades would aim at his head when they fired.
"Don't be so desperate, we might not be enemies," Murphy said.
Valery clearly didn't believe him, seeing Murphy as an opponent trying to win him over.
"You've been here for quite a while now, and you should know what I want. Do you think the research here can belong to just one country?"
"We're studying magic, brother."
"It's an area almost as vast as the former science, it's not an industry, not a chip, not a rocket, not a nuclear bomb. It's basic science! It's theoretical physics, chemistry, astronomy, anthropology, biology... How could a single country monopolize it? This is a treasure belonging to all humanity."
"But you're monopolizing it," Valery pointed out sharply.
"And I don't want to monopolize it," Murphy said, "I created this lab and opened all the research results to all lab personnel because I don't want to monopolize it."
"Then why don't you let me go and take those results back?"
"Take them back, to whom?"
"Of course, to the Soviet Union."
"The Soviet Union, and who is that? I think, if you take those technologies back, you don't just want to get a promotion for some official or just find a way out for yourself, right?"
"What do you mean?!" Valery glared at him.
"First, answer me, who is the Soviet Union?"
"Of course, the people of the Soviet Union!"
"Then let me ask you, will the people of the Soviet Union be the final recipients of these technologies? The person who takes the technology from your hands and the organization they belong to, can they still represent the people of the Soviet Union?"
"You!" Valery became angry, "You are indeed a lapdog of Western will! You want to shake my faith!"
"No, Davary, you know your faith hasn't wavered. What you're angry about is just my attempt to separate your pure faith from the government that you see as the embodiment of your faith."
"But, I don't have such an idea, even if your homeland is now deeply flawed, even if that government is no longer what it used to be, even if that party is no longer the same, I don't want you to completely separate them."
"Your country is a great country, but it's huge, the government is huge, the party is huge, and there are countless people within it, as you know, not everyone is as loyal as you."
"I want you to distinguish between yourself and those disguised enemies."
"You should see clearly, your loyalty is always to your faith, your people, your homeland, your government, your party, not to some corrupted worms who still sit in the position of control."
"They have long become your enemies, the enemies of the party, the homeland, the people."
"You should more carefully discern who the true believer soldiers are and who are shameless thieves in comrades' skins!"
"Open your eyes, Davary!"
___________________
(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)
If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters
Read Ahead
Patreon.com/INNIT