Chapter 383: The Holographic Projection Experience
Hearing Ganyu's quiet confidence, the corners of Spider's mouth curled into a strange, almost mocking smile. "Then I shall wait and see."
As a world-renowned master illusionist and hypnotist, his arrogance was well-founded. He simply refused to believe that mere wires and code could ever surpass the labyrinth of the human mind. Holographic projection was, at its core, a parlor trick of light and shadow—an artificial fake. How could a machine possibly deliver a more authentic, visceral experience than his carefully crafted hypnotic nightmares?
Keqing exchanged a brief, knowing glance with Ganyu. Receiving a subtle nod of acknowledgment from the half-qilin, the two women turned on their heels and strode toward separate control terminals, their fingers flying across the illuminated keyboards to initiate the sequence.
It was true that their previous spectacle during the Osaka competition had relied on a bit of divine intervention. By using the power of the Dendro Archon, Nahida, they had drawn the entire audience into a collective dream, delivering a flawless, ethereal performance that bordered on cheating. However, the holographic projection technology they possessed now was entirely real. After securing vast resources and data from the Schindler Group, Ningguang had immediately mobilized her top technical personnel. With the unmatched computational assistance of the artificial intelligence, Noah's Ark, they had successfully decoupled the core visual technology from the infamous Cocoon project, refining and evolving it into something far more versatile.
In fact, this was the exact same technology they had deployed aboard the Bell Tree Express during the Mystery Train incident. It was this very system that had flawlessly deceived the conductor's eyes, warping the corridor's layout and causing him to completely misjudge the position of the cabin doors.
Now, as Keqing executed the final string of commands, the system hummed to life. Before Spider, Kogoro Mouri, or any of the gathered detectives could even blink, an astonishing, hyper-realistic scene blossomed into existence right before their eyes.
The thick, ordinary observation glass separating the control room from the testing chamber suddenly seemed to possess magical properties, acting as a sheer barrier between two entirely different dimensions.
On their side of the glass, the room remained a sterile laboratory packed with humming servers and high-tech equipment. But on the other side, reality had been overwritten. Spider, Kogoro, and the rest of the group pressed close to the barrier, staring intently at the ever-changing scenery with their mouths slightly agape in sheer disbelief.
The sterile testing chamber had vanished, replaced by a vast, boundless expanse of vibrant green grassland. The rolling hills were dotted with countless blooming wildflowers, weaving a gorgeous, multi-colored carpet across the earth. A gentle, simulated breeze swept through the room, causing the tall grass to sway in rhythmic, hypnotic waves. Somehow, the system even managed to synthesize the crisp, earthy fragrance of morning dew and fresh pollen, wafting it through the ventilation.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, that tranquil paradise was violently shattered. A howling gale ripped across the plains. The wind shrieked through the chamber, forcing the digital trees to bow under its immense pressure as thousands of torn petals scattered wildly through the air. Heavy, oppressive storm clouds instantly blotted out the artificial sun. Blinding forks of lightning fractured the sky, followed by the deafening crack of thunder that vibrated against the observation glass. Then came the deluge—massive, heavy raindrops poured down in sheets, splashing violently against the muddy ground and kicking up a dense mist of water. The sheer intensity and ferocity of the simulated storm left the onlookers breathless, instinctively awed by the raw, untamed power of nature.
Just as quickly as the tempest arrived, the torrential rain ceased. The environment shifted once more, the dark clouds parting to reveal a stunning, silver-clad world of eternal winter. A thick blanket of pristine snow buried the earth. The surviving trees were draped in heavy white coats, with jagged, crystal-clear icicles hanging dangerously from their frozen branches. A sudden, biting chill seeped through the glass partition, washing over the observers and making them feel as though they had been abruptly shoved into a frozen fairy-tale kingdom.
Every single transition was flawlessly rendered, possessing a hyper-realistic and infectious charm. Even though it wasn't their first time witnessing the Teyvat group's technological marvels, Ran and Sonoko still watched with wide, sparkling eyes, repeatedly murmuring their praises at the stunning display.
Spider, however, quickly forced himself to snap out of his initial stupor. He narrowed his eyes, deliberately ignoring the artistic beauty of the images. Instead, he scrutinized the edges of the room, the shadows beneath the trees, and the light refraction in the icicles, desperately hunting for rendering flaws, pixelation, or any telltale signs of a cheap holographic projection.
To his mounting frustration, he found absolutely nothing. Even as the simulation stabilized entirely on the frozen wasteland, the illusion remained perfect. There were no visual tears, no lagging frames. He could even feel the ambient temperature in the observation room dropping, perfectly mimicking the glacial chill radiating from the other side of the glass.
"Miss Keqing," Spider began, his tone smooth but laced with a stubborn refusal to concede defeat. "I wonder if I might be permitted to step onto the other side of the glass? I wish to experience the magic of this holographic projection up close." He gestured gracefully toward the winter wonderland. "Watching from such a distance, I fear I cannot truly appreciate the soul-shaking, immersive charm of your technology."
Hearing his request, Keqing raised a delicate eyebrow. A subtle, knowing smile touched her lips. She gave a graceful nod, her amethyst eyes glinting with quiet amusement. "Hmm. Of course you can."
The rest of the group immediately perked up. Curiosity danced in their eyes, and several of them shifted their weight, clearly eager to follow the illusionist into the testing chamber.
Catching their eager movements, Keqing raised a hand to halt them. "Don't be in such a rush," she declared, her tone shifting to a strict, professional cadence. "There is one thing I must clarify beforehand. This specific chamber is primarily designed for testing the simulation of extreme environmental scenarios—exactly like the violent storm you just witnessed. Because of the physical feedback systems integrated into the projection, there is a genuine level of danger inside. It is entirely possible to sustain actual injuries."
She paused, her sharp gaze locking onto a certain bespectacled boy. Seeing that Conan Edogawa's expression hadn't changed in the slightest, his eyes still burning with an insatiable, reckless curiosity, Keqing crossed her arms and emphasized her next words heavily. "And for that reason, children are absolutely not allowed to enter!"
Conan let out a disappointed huff, though he didn't dare argue with the Yuheng. Keqing then shifted her attention back to Günther von Goldberg II, fixing the man with a piercing stare. "Knowing the risks, do you still wish to go in and experience it?"
Spider offered a confident, sweeping bow of affirmation. Receiving his answer, Keqing didn't waste another breath trying to dissuade him. She pressed a button on the console, unsealing the heavy glass partition. With a pneumatic hiss, the door slid open, allowing Günther and Toru Amuro—who had quietly stepped forward to request entry as well—to step through the threshold and into the simulated space.
Spider didn't take Keqing's warning to heart in the slightest. As he crossed the threshold, his mind scoffed at the idea of danger. No matter how advanced the visuals were, a fake was still a fake. A machine projecting light against a wall couldn't hijack a person's central nervous system the way his hypnosis could. What kind of physical injury could one possibly sustain from a glorified movie theater?
also, he knew the limitations of sensory manipulation better than anyone. Even with his world-class hypnosis, if a target possessed an exceptionally firm will or encountered a sudden, jarring external stimulus, the illusion could shatter. He fully expected this technological trick to break the moment he interacted with it.
The moment the glass door sealed shut behind them, both Spider and Amuro were hit by a blast of bone-chilling cold. The temperature plummet was drastic, biting through their clothes and raising goosebumps on their skin. Yet, neither man showed much surprise. After all, a advanced industrial air conditioning system could easily replicate a winter draft.
However, their nonchalance vanished the moment they cautiously shifted their weight. The solid, metallic floor of the testing chamber was gone. Instead, the sensation beneath their shoes was exactly like sinking into a fresh, thick bank of snow. With every step they took, a distinct, satisfying crunch echoed from beneath their soles. The resistance was incredibly tactile; walking felt genuinely difficult, their boots sinking and occasionally slipping against hidden patches of simulated ice.
It wasn't just a visual trick. The physical resistance, the auditory feedback, the biting cold—it was as if they had truly been teleported into the heart of a frozen tundra. Despite their respective training and composure, both men couldn't help but exchange a look of deep astonishment.
Back in the safety of the control room, Keqing shot a smooth, traceless hand signal to Ganyu. Seeing the secretary nod in confirmation, Keqing leaned forward and flicked on the intercom microphone. Her voice echoed clearly through the freezing chamber, carrying a crisp, unbothered warning to Günther and Amuro.
"Next phase of the environmental test," Keqing announced smoothly. "Falling ice cones. I suggest the two of you prepare to dodge."
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