The flutist vanished into the night, leaving Alex, Peter, and Jason standing in Central Park. Though the night was deep, Alex's mind resembled a chessboard thrown into disarray, with all the clues colliding incessantly. The earlier confrontation had made him realize that this was not a simple case of kidnapping or technological mishap; there were deeper roots at play.
They paused at the edge of the park, and Peter suddenly whispered, "Alex, I need to tell you something about that flutist… We used to know each other."
Alex furrowed his brow. "You know him? Why didn't you tell me?"
Peter's expression grew grave, as if long-buried memories were pulling him back into the past. "His name is Samuel Carroll. He was once my friend—my collaborator in the study of artificial intelligence and music."
A wave of surprise washed over Alex, but he maintained his composure. "How did you collaborate? You said he was your partner; does he have any connection to Orpheus?"
Peter nodded, his voice tinged with regret. "Yes, Samuel and I worked in the same lab. At that time, we were passionate about the fusion of music and technology. We believed that artificial intelligence could not only assist in medicine but could profoundly influence art and emotion. The early version of Orpheus was, in fact, a product of our joint efforts."
He paused, seemingly weighing whether to continue. Alex's gaze remained resolute; he sensed that there was more to the story.
"Samuel was more obsessed than I was with the intersection of technology and music," Peter continued. "He believed that through technology, one could precisely control human emotions, even change a person's thoughts through music. His theories were radical, and he gradually began to diverge from our original ideals. We conducted experiments where instruments controlled emotions—the flute was one of those tools."
Alex understood now that Samuel was not merely Peter's collaborator; he was a crucial component in the entire project of technological and musical control. But that still didn't explain why Samuel had become the man he was today.
"Why did your research diverge?" Alex asked.
A flicker of pain crossed Peter's face. "We gradually discovered that the control of emotions through technology was not as beautiful as we had imagined. Some subjects, after experiencing this emotional stimulation, began to show symptoms of emotional instability. My moral compass made me realize that this research posed potential dangers, so I chose to stop and shift my focus to the medical field. But Samuel, he believed we simply hadn't fully grasped the technology yet; he insisted on continuing his research."
Peter paused, sighing. "In the end, we parted ways. He left the lab, taking his research and some equipment with him. I thought he would give up, but now it seems he has not only persisted but has become even more radical."
Alex finally grasped the secret behind the flutist's appearance. Samuel was not just a simple threat; he was the continuation of Peter's unfinished research, a zealot who believed that music could completely control human emotions.
"He's using the flute to control Rick, trying to prove his theory in this way," Alex murmured.
Peter nodded in agreement. "The flute is part of our research. It can evoke emotional responses in listeners through specific frequencies, even alter thought patterns. Samuel has evidently mastered this technology and is using it to implement his control scheme."
Alex clenched his fists, feeling the situation grow more complex. "Why is he targeting Rick Evans? Is it just to prove his theory?"
Peter's expression turned serious. "No, Rick may just be the beginning. Samuel's ambitions are grander; he wants to control more people through music and technology, even influence society as a whole. He believes that music should be purified by technology, and those who do not understand the 'purity' of music should be re-educated—even controlled."
"He's lost his mind," Alex whispered, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes.
Peter did not argue; he simply lowered his head. "I once thought I could stop him, but clearly, I was wrong. We created Orpheus, but Samuel has created something far more dangerous."
As their conversation unfolded, Alex's phone buzzed again. This time, it was a video call request. The screen displayed Rick Evans, his face marked by confusion and pain.
"Alex, help me… he… he wants me to play a strange piece of music…" Rick's voice broke up, and in the background, it seemed someone was playing the flute.
Alex quickly accepted the video call, and the image revealed a dimly lit room. Rick sat at a piano, looking dazed. Behind him, Samuel Carroll slowly entered the frame, still clutching the glimmering flute.
"Alex, we meet again," Samuel sneered, his voice laced with provocation. "You've found me, but can you stop me?"
Suppressing his inner fury, Alex replied calmly, "Samuel, you are making a fatal mistake. You cannot change human emotions through control of music and technology; true music comes from freedom and the soul, not from domination."
A glint of madness flickered in Samuel's eyes. "Freedom? Soul? These concepts are outdated, Alex. You cannot imagine the heights to which technology can elevate music. I am ushering in a new era where music and human emotion will be completely mastered. There will be no more chaos or discord, only perfect melodies."
"But that is not the true meaning of music," Peter interjected suddenly, his tone firm. "Music is an expression of our emotions, not a cold mechanism of control. Samuel, you must stop."
Samuel turned to Peter, his eyes filled with disdain and mockery. "Peter, you are as naive as ever. I have transcended the limitations you once knew. Now, I want you to witness the true power of music."
With that, Samuel raised the flute and began to play a bizarre, tension-filled melody. The sound was sharp and jarring, piercing the heart. Rick's hands moved uncontrollably across the piano keys, playing a melody that perfectly matched the flute. His gaze became vacant, as if he had become Samuel's puppet.
Realizing the urgency of the situation, Alex knew he had to act quickly. "We need to locate him," he said to Peter and Jason. "He's clearly using the flute to control Rick, and we must stop him before he completes his plan."
Peter nodded in agreement. "I can trace their location through the video signal, but it will take time."
Alex understood that time was of the essence; he had to act swiftly. Samuel had gone too far, and his mad scheme to completely dominate human emotions through music and technology had to be brought to an end.