Lucian nodded and pushed open the door to a room ahead of them. The two stepped inside and found the phantom projections of two researchers.
Male Researcher: "That supervisor from the Fractsidus is truly generous... Without his financial support, who knows how long it would have taken to build this laboratory."
Lucian listened and gave a slight nod. "So it really is the Fractsidus funding them. Though, their goals probably don't align with the researchers'."
Rover: "A Fractsidus supervisor? Could it be Scar?"
Lucian shook his head slightly. "The Fractsidus has more than one supervisor. It might not be him."
The male researcher's phantom continued speaking:
"Even though he loves meddling in our experiments, there's nothing we can do—he's our benefactor, after all."
"The lab's location might be remote, but as long as we can continue our research, it's enough for us."
Female Researcher's Phantom: "True. Where else could us 'madmen' even go?"
"Headquarters drove us out like stray dogs... They'll never understand..."
Lucian frowned. "Headquarters?"
Rover mused: "Could they have originally been from Huaxu Academy in Jinzhou?"
Lucian shook his head. "Doesn't seem like it. I suspect this Court of Savantae is just a branch. They must have other research facilities scattered across the world. At that scale, they'd qualify as an 'organization.' We'll ask Aalto about it later."
The two continued listening as the male researcher's phantom spoke again:
"As Professor Heisenberg once said in his speech, the work we're doing is a grand undertaking—one that will change the future of humanity."
"This time, we will make the 'miracle' we once witnessed reappear before mankind's eyes!"
The researcher's next words seemed to jump to a different point in time.
"'Artificial Retroact Rain' has successfully entered its second phase... Yet all the evidence we have suggests this civilization did once come to Whining Aix's Mire."
"Using the reenactment properties of 'Retroact Rain' to reproduce past 'miracles'... Could our approach be flawed?"
"There's no time left. The 'artificially controlled Tacet Field' should already be complete. We must initiate 'Plan Two'..."
The voice faded out there.
Just as the two were left bewildered, they heard Encore's voice calling out from not far away:
"Aalto! Lucian! Rover! Come quick! Encore found something amazing!"
The three quickly made their way to Encore, who had also opened a door to a room—inside was another phantom, this one of an elderly man.
Lucian patted Encore's head. "Good job, Encore."
Encore giggled. "It was all thanks to Black Sheep White Sheep!"
The elderly phantom spoke:
"...It's getting closer. Heh... Seems I've reached my final moments. I can't help but feel a little regret."
"I always thought my enemies were the misunderstandings of the world, the fading passion, the stagnation born of confusion..." This update is available on novèlfire.net
"Only at the end did I realize... that time was my greatest foe."
"The approaching end and my thirst for answers made me grow obsessive, until our path veered completely off course..."
"But by the time I realized it, it was already too late... We... had already stepped through that false door..."
"Here, I leave behind my final revelation..."
"They are our 'past'... and our 'future'... Had I known this sooner, there might still have been a chance to change things..."
"O Traveler from the past who belongs to the future... Please... save us once more..."
"Keep moving forward... until you cross that... true door... the one that can change the world..."
The phantom dissipated.
Lucian glanced at Rover.
"Traveler from the past who belongs to the future..."
That had to be Rover, right?
"They are our past and our future..."
Who were they? And what was this about false and true doors...? This was exactly why Lucian hated riddles.
Just as everyone was lost in their thoughts, a woman's figure suddenly appeared in midair. They all looked up to see her—a woman in a delicate gray-and-white dress that fluttered lightly, revealing pale thighs.
Behind her head floated two rings resembling planetary orbits, and long gray hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her eyes were tightly shut. Then, before anyone could react—she opened them. Her crimson pupils locked onto the group.
[Ding! Option Triggered!]
[Option 1: "What nonsense is this?! Draw your Yamato and disperse her!" Reward: Blood Saber skill +1 level.]
[Option 2: "No matter who she is, you must flirt! How else can you live up to your title as Jinzhou's Most Devoted Lover?!" Reward: A wisp of elusive power.]
[Option 3: "Kiss Rover right in front of her!" Reward: Transformation Magic!]
In the heavy silence, Lucian suddenly declared:
"Rover! Now's the time!"
Before she could react, Lucian pulled her close by the waist.
And then—he kissed her. Deeply.
She froze for a moment before awkwardly responding. But, true to his title as Jinzhou's Most Devoted Lover, even as he kissed Rover, Lucian's eyes flicked toward the mysterious woman, gauging her reaction. She must have some connection to Rover. Otherwise, the system wouldn't have prompted me to kiss Rover in front of her.
The mysterious woman: "..."
When their lips finally parted, Lucian raised a hand to greet her—intending to complete Option 2 as well—but she spoke first.
Her voice was ethereal, soft, as if whispering directly into Lucian's ear. But before she could finish, her figure began fading away, as though that single word had been nothing more than an illusion.
[Ding! Option 3 completed. Acquired talent: Transformation Magic!]
[Transformation Magic: You can transform yourself or others into anything in the world!]
Tch—I should've flirted first!
With his vast gaming experience, he knew that "elusive power" had to be something incredibly strong!
Rover glared at him, her eyes full of reproach. "I told you not to be so casual about this!"
Lucian immediately apologized. "Sorry, Rover. As penance, I've decided—"
Before he could finish, he kissed her again. Deeply. This time, his eyes didn't wander. After all—he was Jinzhou's Most Devoted Lover.