An accident…
Yet it didn’t seem like a pure accident; rather, it felt like an invisible force meddling. These so-called accidents were simply too hard to believe.
But the ambassador, who had witnessed many similar incidents, quickly matched this visible calamity against them in his mind.
“Indeed, what you said is plausible. Taken alone, the probability of tonight’s incident was low, yet it happened precisely at our critical moment of inviting the Fogfolk. “
“This isn’t about overall probability. “
The agent of Stedfen, clad in black with a mustache dusting his lips, responded:
“As things stand now, we can be a hundred percent certain that all projects under the Scientific Preparatory Committee have been tainted by the gaze of the Age of Corruption. “
The Age of Corruption was not the true answer behind these catastrophes and technological nightmares. Ambassador Ang Jins knew this all too well.
“Let’s hope the bad luck doesn’t keep piling up next. “
No one currently knew how it came into being. If they did, perhaps the problem might have been solved and closed.
If the destruction of the world were an insurmountable, unconquerable fact, then at least people could quietly resign themselves to their doomed fate—there would be no need to bind the world in such maddening tangles, like the Fogfolk and their strange temperaments. Others might be clueless, but he knew all too well: these people were inextricably tied to some stealthy, hidden force entrenched in this world.
“So the fact that related matters go wrong is… to be expected, is it? “
Listening to this dialogue, the secretary gaped as if she were being told the wildest fantasy.
Ang Jins looked up at the woman. “I understand these matters are still perilous for folks like you, but with a host of chaotic events erupting together now, that danger has been diluted and spread. Count that as a small mercy. “
“True. The more the world veers from the pattern of before, the safer we actually are in this very moment. “
A black-clad agent picked up a fragment from the ground and chimed in, his voice subdued but his eyes sharp as he scrutinized the part in his hands.
“Wait, Jins. Are you sure this is from a nightmare, no, a demonic simulacrum fragment? “
“What’s wrong? ” Ang Jins looked up.
The man’s eyes flashed, and he rapidly picked up all the fragments one by one, then turned around in a frenzy: “Where are the rest?! No, tell me, where is the person who designed it? “
……
Mortav sat dejectedly and silently in the conference room, with its blue-green waterproof painted baseboards.
The people from the technical hearing had already left, having finished asking the general questions. They were now racing to review their own counterfeit television project, with years of research resulting in stacks of technical documents stuffed into several burlap sacks.
Even if the review team were made up of superhumans, this was not a task that could be completed promptly.
Footsteps passed by the door. Mortav turned to see the staff here leading three people inHarblackSelkirk Academy work uniforms past him.
Those he had been trying to avoid were finally coming to inspect his research… and from the position of a failed examinee.
Whatever. Mortav felt too numb to emote.
He had a place to sleep today, and food to eat tomorrow. But what about the day after?
After the review, all the technology would be sealed away, no longer allowed to appear in the world. Where would he go from there?
Such a failure… he sighed.
In an age like this, why would anyone choose to do anything else beside scientific research? Sigh.
Suddenly, a light and rhythmic sound of footsteps approached.
Mortaf turned to look. It was a long-legged woman at least two heads taller than him.
With a slender figure, she had a face as delicate and heroic as jade-white porcelain, her naturally curly hair cascading over her shoulders. Dressed in a military uniform, she approached. Behind the woman was a boy of about ten, wearing adult-sized clothes and yawning.
“Good day. I am the adjutant to Lieutenant General Ross, Hailikoni. “
“Hello, beautiful lady. “
Mortaf responded weakly, letting out a lazy sigh before adding, “Still, the surname Koni is very rare. “
“Koni is my given name. “
The woman sat down next to him on a wooden chair painted blue:
“I’m an assistant in the Special Headquarters for Homeland Defense and Techno-Heritage under Lieutenant General Ross, primarily responsible for cross-departmental coordination. “
She took out a pen. “Because the incident of the birth of the techno-monster happens to be related to the investors from Mist State that our Technology Preparatory Committee is supposed to contact. So I am here on behalf of the Special Headquarters responsible for this incident under Haeven Zic, to follow up on the situation. “
Mortaf understood that this woman was not from the Mist tenant lands; it was very reasonable that she came representing the Haeven Zic Special Headquarters. He roughly repeated what he had previously stated overnight before the hearing personnel.
“We took the risk to collect materials related to television, because when I was young, I came across a similar source selling information. He narrated all the relevant technologies of television to me verbally and told me that this path was already dead. “
Haili Koni’s note-taking speed was very professional, but even so, her hand trembled slightly at this moment.
“He made a living selling these technologies? “
The boy who asked the question was leaning against a large conference table pieced together from thick wooden planks.
Around the big table, there were dozens of chairs, the kind of furniture that could only be found in union gathering places, occupying almost the entire large meeting room.
“Mm. I suspect he was a descendant of one of those Honor families—more precisely, the offspring of some scientific Honor family who no longer upheld their fathers’ prestige. “
Haili Koni glanced at Tatarmingqi. The boy shrugged. “Go on, Sister Haili. “
“Specifically, how did you manage to avoid replicating the manufacturing technology of television and yet still create something like this? “
“Initially, I referenced the design concept of mechanical scanning devices—the core of which is a disc with a spirally arranged pattern of small holes. When spun at high speed, the disc breaks an image into discrete photoelectric signals, leveraging the human eye’s persistence of vision so that holes at different heights capture the picture information. We used this principle to build an early prototype that successfully played images. But right after that, it failed. “
“Failed? ” the two asked in unison.
“Yes. At a certain point, that thing turned into a technological demon. Ah. Thank goodness we had prepared the Fogfolk weapons in advance, or the consequences could have been dire. I already explained this last night.“
Mortav lifted his head; his entire oily, wrinkled face was filled with deep despair as he said:
_”We invited a Fogfolk to help investigate the cause. Through his connections, he learned that in their continent, something like this had already appeared nearly two centuries ago.
“That core disk is called the Nipkow disk, and this type of television, not based on vacuum tube principles, is the earliest… mechanical scanning television in their world.“
“What a pity.“
“Oh, but we still borrowed some of its principles.” Mortav weakly raised both hands.
Hailikoni continued recording, but in less than two minutes, she was interrupted by a clamor of voices.
Then suddenly, rapid footsteps sounded at the entrance.
The group turned to look; Ambassador Ang Jins came running in, out of breath. Behind him, someone seemed to be explaining something to the staff outside.
Seeing Hailikoni here, his expression, as well as that of the man in black clothes and hat who followed him in, shifted slightly.
“Oh, hello, ma’am. You’re here too.“
“I’m from the Special Command Headquarters, investigating the technological nightmare that appeared in our capital. What business do you have?“
Ang Jins nodded to Motafu, who looked both puzzled and somewhat expectant. The man in black beside him turned to Hailikoni and said:
“We are here to take him away. This gentleman is an honorary scientist of our Stedfin Lion Empire. His research encountered issues here. After learning of the situation, our Academy of Sciences paid close attention and must conduct a detailed problem entry to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.“
“That’s right. The remaining researchers here are also capable of documenting the situation. The current preparatory committee of Stedfin is in urgent need of talent, especially scientific figures like him who have made significant contributions to the nation’s development. We have every reason to assist him in overcoming his difficulties and grant him the proper position and benefits he deserves.“
They walked up to the astonished Motafu and said:
“Sir, time is of the essence. Please come with us immediately. The embassy will handle the remaining matters here.“
“This… we… is this really true?” Motafu could hardly believe it.
He thought his life was over, never expecting that, after being away from the motherland for years, he would receive concern and rescue from his homeland at this critical moment.
At that moment, he silently shed tears.
Two embassy staff members were arguing near the door with the special employee responsible for the rented land.
“We guarantee that the technology that gave birth to the demon will not be leaked.“
Outside, the secretary who had followed them said to the staff reluctant to let the related person leave:
“You must be aware of how tight the time is until the end of the world. Having a scientist with such extensive experience join the preparatory committee is crucial for organizing and reviewing scientific technology. We hope that, before the truly significant event, these long-settled matters will no longer waste the precious time of our scientific warriors. “
“This… “
Hailikoni watched as Motov was helped to his feet by two people. The staff outside were already wavering under the persuasion and assurances of the embassy personnel.
“We are in special times. Our silent scientific legacy needs people to sift through it; our people need their scientists to instill confidence. “
“Alright. ” the staff member conceded:
“You need to guarantee that Mr. Motov will remain silent on all related information until the sorting of the technical materials here is complete. Only then can you return to your country and cooperate with our colleagues’ ongoing work. “
“Of course. ” Ang Jins promised with a sigh of relief.
Finally got this precious jewel out.
He placed a hand on Motov’s back, half-guiding, half-pushing him toward the door. The staff members, making written records, cleared a path and tore off the documents that would allow their departure, preparing to hand them over.
Suddenly, a stern female voice rang out behind them.
“Please wait a moment. Motov has been conducting research in our Torko in recent years, and he has already obtained permanent residency in our Kingdom of Heivenzike ten years ago. “
“Huh? ” Motov turned back in surprise.
Ang Jins and the others by the door turned around. Haili Koni walked forward two steps expressionlessly and said:
“The current Tech Nightmare incident has yet to be fully resolved. As the lead researcher, Mr. Mortaf cannot leave at this moment. “
“But our leased land has been cleared, ” the secretary lady outside said.
Haili Koni stared straight at the people outside:
“The leased land is one thing; Heivenzike is another. From now on, Mr. Mortaf’s investigation will be taken over by our ‘Kingdom of Heivenzike, Special Command for Territorial Defense and Technological Heritage’. “
“What! ” Mortaf shuddered all over. “Good heavens, child, don’t do this now… “
“Please come with me, Mortaf. “
Haili Koni showed no timidity, meeting the dark stare of the ambassador from the Karrinsean Free Federation with direct eye contact.
“Ma’am, please reconsider, ” began a man in black nearby, but Ang Jins immediately raised a hand to stop him.
“Alright, Ma’am. I’ll handle diplomatic asylum for our allied nation’s scientist through diplomatic channels immediately. After you. “
Having barely walked ten steps, Mortaf was taken over on the spot, now guided toward the exit.
Towern-Minky followed them to the door. The driver and a bodyguard who had come along stepped forward and escorted Mortaf into the car.
Haili Koni hesitated for a moment, then turned to the bodyguard and said, “Keep an eye on this place for me. These foreign embassy people aren’t here with good intentions. “
“Yes! “
The man saluted, then watched as the group got into a black sleek-backed car and drove off around the street corner.
……
In the back seat, Motaf wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and glanced at the woman beside him, as if he had never seen such a domineering young lady before.
“Miss, straight to the command office or somewhere else? ” the driver in the front asked.
After a few moments of silence, the girl parted her red lips:
“To the hospital. “
Motaf’s eyes instantly went wide as he stared at the woman’s calm profile.
The car took a turn and headed in another direction. In the passenger seat, Tataming nodded in approval and couldn’t help but snap his fingers lightly, looking quite pleased with himself.
……
In the hospital room, Yang Zicang was just having his bandages removed. He sat on the edge of the bed gazing at his own reflection in a large mirror held up by Xue Qi.
It had only been a few days, but this face already seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
“President, your face seems to have changed a bit, ” said Hua Mi, who was wearing something like a short-brimmed sun hat nearby. She took off her glasses, rubbed her eyes, put them back on, and leaned in for a closer look.
“Ooh, now that you mention it, I feel it too. “
Xue Qi also pursed her lips: “How come it feels a bit more manly? “
“Oh? Really? “
Yang Zicang took a closer look. This face was indeed slightly different from the one at the very beginning: “Hmm, the eyebrows seem to be tilting up a bit. “
“Pfft, don’t get all smug, ” scoffed Xue Qi, resting one hand on the mirror frame.
“The eyes seem to be getting a little narrower too, ” Hua Mi added.
The more Yang Zicang looked, the more familiar it seemed. Suddenly, it struck him—this face faintly resembled those handsome men and beautiful women he had seen back at Lost Illusion Company.
It was his mental power growing. If he were still at the company, his appearance would have been even more exaggerated.
Beep!
A somewhat familiar horn sounded outside the courtyard.
“It’s Miss Koni, ” Hua Mi said, recognizing the sound as well.
Yang Zicang, whose skin still needed rest, sat back down on the bed.
It wasn’t long before Tattaminqi pushed open the door.
To the surprise of those in the room, not only was Haili Koni following behind, but also the elderly civilian researcher from last night—the one who had come to offer comfort and conduct a screening but ended up stirring up big trouble.
“Old researcher? What’s going on? “
“I have no idea either! ” Motav said with a grimace as he walked into the room. “Hero—I’m innocent! I’m a good person. “
Yang Zicang grunted in confusion and looked at the boy. Wearing Dereiano’s coat, Tattaminqi let out an “mm, ” then hopped up and plopped down onto the long table by the bed, the furniture creaking under the sudden weight.
Bringing up the rear, Haili Koni entered, offering a no-nonsense explanation about Motav’s presence: .
“When I went to the headquarters to document this incident, Ambassador Kings and Standfeld’s people rushed over to take him away. “
She spun the car key in her hand, walked up to Hua Mi—who was staring at her with curiosity—and Xue Qi, who was lost in thought but hadn’t quite figured it out yet. She then looked up at Yang Zicang, lying on the bed, who seemed torn over whether to keep playing the persona he’d adopted during their first meeting on the island. Just then, her heart gave a slight jolt.
That clever, daring rascal—even the way he pondered over things set her heart at ease.
“And then? ” Moritav, the second shortest man in the room, asked with a tilted brow.
Hailikoni suddenly felt a spark of courage to crack a joke as well. “So the clever, self-confident me simply took the man away. “
“Took him away? ” Yang Zicang lifted his head in surprise. “And brought him… here? “
“｛Distributor Tattamiche, speaking from his rich experience: I am gestating a splendid new prelude.｝ “
Yang Zicang glanced at the boy giving him a wink, whose sitting posture looked just like that of a little street urchin.
“Wow, ” Hua Mi sighed in admiration. “What did you unearth, Miss Konii? “
Hailikoni nodded, turning back to Yang Zicang.
“The fruit of this gentleman’s research has already circumvented two technological achievements from those ghost-veiled worlds. While I wondered while sorting out things in my own report whether what he explores now borders on even higher crystalline constructs… yet, such development of resources rarely constitutes a complete void-roofed reality. But I’m not entirely settled on that. “
Their eyes all focused on Moritav who, stunned, had fallen into speculation.
“Why did you bring him here? ” Xue Qi asked with intrigue, as if trying to sieve her own questioning straight out of Hailikoni’s answer.
Hailikoni said,
“Because Ambassador Kins is here. They want to take this gentleman away immediately. Whatever the enemy seeks to win over, we should also seek to win over.“
“This…” Mortaf wiped the sweat from his forehead, slightly embarrassed. He finally understood why he was here.
Hua Mi said, “Based on my limited experience, if under the same technical conditions someone has already developed one or more mature technological solutions, then very few people will start from scratch to develop a completely different, non-overlapping technology.“
As soon as these words were spoken, the people in the room fell into deep thought.
Yang Zicang said softly, “That’s right. What most of them will do is invest more in this new technology to drive its iteration.“
“In our world… many of the projects I’ve heard about involve scientists proposing concepts, then countless labs and companies continuously developing them, pouring massive amounts of capital into the same field, competing for the lead to dominate. Finally, they rely on technological advantages to crush other rivals.“
“Is this true?“
Mortaf listened with envy and disbelief, “What a terrifyingly strange world.“
“It’s true.” After Yang Zicang spoke, he looked at Hailikoni.
“Thank you for your vigilance.“
But he noticed that the lady seemed to have more to say, as if she was holding something back.
Everyone looked at her. The lady gazed at the people from the Foglands before her, her breath tightening. At this moment, Hailikoni felt a faint, strange stirring within her chest, as if… a long-awaited, inexplicable impulse was finally about to break through and blossom from that small seed deep in her heart.
“I’d like… to ask you all to help determine if a brand new, never-before-seen science and technology in history, could also turn into a demon, along with similar lost technologies? “
With a crack, it was as if a golden line sprouted from a gleam of light in the void of nothingness, leaping high and zigzagging towards the dark sky above two lines of technology, falling and withering like orchid branches.
“Completely… brand new technology? “
The woman nodded, “I suspect this TV-like technology has succeeded. Perhaps what turned into a demon is only some cancerous tumor-like offshoots that need to be cut away. “
“What! You, you… “
Mortaf’s finger pointed shockedly at Hailikoni, murmuring, “No wonder you’re the adjutant beside the Lieutenant General! “
“Sheesh… ” Xue Qi and Hua Mi broke out in a collective sigh of relief.
-｛Distributor: Valkyrie of May begins to observe my current life experiences.｝
-｛Distributor Valkyrie has given me a “Favorable Review “.｝
Yang Zicang immediately threw off the sheet and stomped his feet to the floor. Mortaf, his mouth agape, waved his arms twice above his head as if to cheer but couldn’t quite shout it out. His body seemed to have forgotten how to celebrate for a moment. The immense sense of joy caused his brain, which had been rapidly processing technical data, to momentarily overload, leaving him in a peculiar state.
“What’s wrong with him? ” Hua Mi clasped her hands before her chest and took a step back, asking with concern.
“It’s the state of Fan Jin passing the imperial exam. That must have triggered something. Hey! ” Yang Zicang shouted, “Master! Did you think of something?! “
Slap!Xue Qi stepped forward without saying a word and clapped her hands sharply right before his eyes—not on his face.
The sharp sound snapped him out of it for a moment.
“Congratulations, ” Xue Qi said softly. “If you want to shout, then shout it out loud. “
“HAHAHAHA! OH HO HO HO! HAHAHA… WAH WAH WAH WAH… “
Mortaf landed on his rear and burst into tears. “I thought… “
“Enough with the ‘I thought’! Now quickly pull out all the parts that might cause issues. We have to keep moving on this brand-new television technology project. “
They all got busy. Before that, Hua Mi first gave Hailikoni a big hug. Then, notebooks taller than lunchboxes, fountain pens, and a brand-new desk and stool were delivered to the ward.
“Am I seriously going to write those files down here? ” Mortaf asked, full of doubt.
“Don’t forget, any technical documents that overlap with historical tech—once their words are made public, the very essence of everything recorded in them will turn even paper into demons. I bet after yesterday, they’ve already started brewing. “
“Then if I write it down… won’t it—I think maybe I should just talk, and let one of you do the recording instead. “
The researcher felt that each sheet of paper was like an animal trap meant to snare a fierce beast, and his own hand was likely to be devoured by one of them.
Hailikoni stood behind the three people surrounding the desk.
Yang Zicang said to Mortaf, who wore a face full of astonishment:
“Write it down. This is precisely the way to uncover them—the meaning of words is to expose these demons. “
“But… that’s too slow. ” Mottav hesitated again.
-｛April Distributor Odyssey wishes to pre-order my pregnant brilliant prelude.｝
“Well, it seems we’ll need to have someone steal all your research notes and shove you in there to find them. “
Xue Qi pressed her palms together, cracking her knuckles.
“Let me be clear: the more people involved, the faster the nightmares are born. Especially someone like you with zero blood contamination! “
“But… “
“If you’re unwilling, I’ll take you to the interrogation department of Hervens Chronicle. ” Haili Koni’s words made Mottav straighten his back.
Facing this woman in a high-grade military uniform, he composed himself with crisp movements: “I’ll write it now. “
The old man stood by the leather chair:
“I, well, I was just sorting out the general issues that might arise. Mmm, now that I think about it, it seems… perhaps… maybe… “
Xue Qi shoved him by the shoulder, “Cut the crap, get moving! “
Mottav’s palm was clammy with cold sweat as he gripped the pencil tip.
He didn’t dare touch a single finger to those seemingly more advanced fountain pens, and even his butt resting on the leather chair was slightly lifted off.
“New technology… the technology that births demons… “
Under the oppressive glare of Yang Zicang and the others behind him, the old man gritted his teeth, pulled out a blank sheet, and began sketching the structural diagram of a component.
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