“But there's another problem.”

Jask immediately asked,

“You continuing hibernation isn't a problem. I also plan to continue hibernation because the development of science and technology really can't support my ideas, so… intermittently hibernating until the era of super genius programmer Cheng Qian in 2500 is indeed the most reasonable research method right now.”

“But you're different. Your purpose isn't for scientific research. If you really hibernate until 2500, when super genius programmer Cheng Qian is around, are you sure you can still wait for Newton?”

Jask chuckled,

“He was from the same era as Copernicus. Even if Newton was just a young man back then, having lived to hibernate in 2025 and then waking up several times in these 200 years, he should be quite old.”

“It's very likely that by the time you wake up from hibernation in 2500, Newton will have already passed away for many years. You won't even be able to find him to take revenge.”

Lin Xian nodded:

“In that case, it would indeed be a bit of a pity. But there's nothing we can do about it. Right now, the most important thing for us is the [secret and information about the cosmic constant 42].”

“Even if Newton doesn't live to 2500, just like he continued Copernicus's will, someone will definitely continue Newton's will and continue the secret of 42.”

“No matter who this successor is, as long as we can revive super AI VV, finding him will be a piece of cake. Then we can get the information from the successor.”

“However…”

Speaking of this, Lin Xian smiled slightly:

“However, I think Newton probably won't die so early.”

“Oh?”

Jask became interested:

“Why do you say that? Did you set any traps or bait for him?”

“That's right.”

Lin Xian nodded:

“Last time right here, when I met Newton's virtual image, I told him that there would be many scientists in the future who could calculate the cosmic constant 42.”

“In his eyes, since I can even kill Einstein and know some things about 42, he shouldn't doubt what I said.”

“With Newton and Copernicus's persistence… they'll probably try to live a few hundred more years to ensure their chances can be implemented smoothly.”

“Before there were hibernation pods in the world, there was no way to live longer, so choosing a successor was a last resort; now that there are hibernation pods, who would be willing to end their lives early?”

“According to my idea, if Newton trusted his successor and was willing to die early, then he wouldn't have hibernated with us until the 23rd century.”

Jask lowered his head, deep in thought.

“Hmm…”

He thought for a while and nodded:

“What you said makes sense, but you can't deny that someone must have been doing dirty work for Newton in these 200 years. After all, Gauss's anti-hibernation virus only just passed not long ago. Newton most likely slept for 200 years like you, just waking up earlier than you.”

Lin Xian stood up from his chair and stretched his arms:

“So, let's take a two-pronged approach—”

“[We will try our best to find Newton's whereabouts on one hand, and prepare for the worst by hibernating until the era of Cheng Qian on the other hand.]”

“Oh right, there's one more thing I need to tell you.”

Lin Xian told Jask about the World-Destroying White Light:

“The speed of light is the limit of the universe. Logically speaking, there's no possibility of observing it in advance, but can you think of other ways?”

Jask listened.

Smiling helplessly:

“Your request is really a bit difficult. Even if I'm amazing, I can't exceed the speed of light! You're right, if this World-Destroying White Light is really flying from a very far distance to destroy the Earth… then we humans are destined to be helpless and can only sit and wait for death.”

“It's not necessarily flying from outer space.”

Lin Xian explained:

“It could also be an explosion caused on Earth, and there are all sorts of other possibilities. I think we should consider a broader range when verifying 'what exactly is the World-Destroying White Light?'”

“In short, we need to first know the truth about the World-Destroying White Light, know whether it exists, what it is, and why it's produced, and then we can think of ways to stop it.”

Jask scratched his head.

For a moment, he really didn't have any clue:

“Well, I'll try to research it. Anyway, there's still plenty of time, and we have plenty of time to try and fail.”

“But I do feel that you said this World-Destroying White Light is coming for the Millennium Pillar, and since the Millennium Pillar is produced because of space-time particles, is it possible…”

“[Is this World-Destroying White Light also caused by space-time particles?]”

He looked up.

Looking at Lin Xian:

“Remember 200 years ago, the blue snow that covered the entire Donghai City?”

“Of course, I remember.”

Lin Xian said softly:

“I definitely remember this… because I was there at the time and witnessed the time-space traveler detonating himself, creating a [space-time explosion].”

“But this space-time explosion only caused harm to the other party who was also a time-space traveler, and nothing in this timeline was harmed.”

“Oh, if I have to say something, this space-time explosion successfully charged two space-time particles. But no matter what, the space-time explosion similar to blue snowflakes is still very different from the instantly arriving World-Destroying White Light.”

Jask rubbed his hands:

“It's just an idea. Since we have no clue about the World-Destroying White Light now, we might as well start researching from space-time particles.”

“Okay, I'll take this task you gave me. Let Liu Feng and Gao Wen focus on studying the cosmic constant 42, and I'll figure out the World-Destroying White Light and space-time particle side of things.”

…

A few days later, inside Rhine University, in a confidential meeting room.

Lin Xian, Gao Wen, Gao Yang, Liu Feng, Du Yao, plus the hafnium alloy trash can robot VV, held a deployment meeting together.

Hafnium alloy VV didn't make any noise, but quietly parked next to Lin Xian's seat, motionless.

Although it was still pretending to be an artificial idiot.

But everyone knew that it was the protagonist of this secret meeting.

“The matter is as I said just now.”

After speaking for a long time, Lin Xian touched VV's crown and made a final summary:

“VV is our old friend and our most powerful partner. Under the current stalemate, only VV can help us easily break the situation.”

“It's just… it's still the old problem of time span. Cheng Qian, who wrote that future virus, won't be born until 2482. I estimate that by the time he can help us kill the virus, it will probably be 2500, the 26th century.”

“As just said, I'm not a scientist, nor am I capable of being a qualified president, so instead of wasting time in this era, it's better to enter the hibernation pod and wait for a breakthrough in technology and progress in our plan before waking up.”

“I've already contacted Jask. In any necessary situation, I can be awakened in time. Whether there's a breakthrough in the study of the cosmic constant, a breakthrough in the study of space-time particles, figuring out the truth about the World-Destroying White Light, or finding out the true identities of Newton or Galileo… you can wake me up from the hibernation pod.”

“It's different now than before. Gauss's anti-hibernation virus has completely failed. Hibernation can be suspended at any time, and it can also be continued at any time. We have gained a lot of freedom in this regard.”

“After this meeting, I'll prepare to enter the hibernation pod again. I've already arranged everyone's tasks. If you have anything else you want to say, you can say it now.”

After Lin Xian summarized, Du Yao raised her hand first:

“I only just woke up not long ago. Like Lin Xian, I'm very disappointed with the level of scientific development in this era.”

“I came to the future with great ambitions, but the current level of technology does make me feel a little disheartened, and at the same time… I can't continue my previous research. I want to continue hibernating for 50 years to see if there are breakthroughs in the field of neurology and the field of biological computers after 50 years. You can wake me up then.”

“For now, I feel that staying in this era will only waste limited time.”

Liu Feng nodded:

“Teacher Gao Wen and I think the same way. We plan to build some super-large equipment and super-large projects to assist in research. The construction of these super projects will take at least ten or twenty years, and we also plan to enter the hibernation pod to wait.”

“However, we are different from Du Yao. We still have many things to do. We will hibernate later than you and wake up more frequently.”

Gao Yang spread his hands:

“I won't express any opinions. I'm the least helpful person. Whenever Lin Xian is awakened, just wake me up along the way.”

He picked his nose:

“Anyway, I don't worry about anything else. I'm just here to save Chu Anqing. This Rhine University security captain is really impressive, with a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers under his command, but he's also busy with work every day! There's so much to deal with, it's even more tiring than the president of a listed company.”

While talking, Gao Yang kicked open VV's crown and flicked the booger inside:

“Sure enough, this kind of management job is not suitable for me. Whoever wants to do it can do it. I still prefer my original sales job.”

“Trash! Trash! Trash detected!”

VV burst out with an unprecedentedly loud volume, its treads spinning in place, taking off at full power and crashing into Gao Yang—

Bang!

The chubby Gao Yang was directly knocked away and rolled to the other side of the conference table.

“Damn!”

The thick-skinned Gao Yang rubbed his head and climbed up, glaring at VV:

“Isn't a trash can used to throw trash? Otherwise, why did you make it look like a trash can? Are you playing abstract art?”

“Your behavior reminds me of the bizarre regulations for checking dorms when I was in junior college… Trash cans can't hold trash! Hangers can't hang clothes! Books can't be placed on desks!”

“Just because of a stupid dorm check, everything lost its original meaning. It's simply the ultimate form of hypocrisy!”

Gao Yang said indignantly, pointing at Liu Feng:

“I've changed my mind. Aren't you planning to have a rotating principal system? Whenever you all hibernate and no one is in charge outside, wake me up from the hibernation pod and let me be the president for a few years to have some fun!”

Liu Feng didn't know whether to laugh or cry:

“The things a president needs to consider are much more than what you do as a security captain now. Don't think I'm nominally the president, but I'm not responsible for managing this area. The position of president is not as good as you think. It's also very busy every day, with everything big and small.”

“Tch.”

Gao Yang snorted and walked around the conference table:

“I still miss the days when I was a salesperson at the 4S store. I feel like I can't find any sense of existence or value hanging out with you people at school.”

Du Yao chuckled and comforted Gao Yang:

“There's an order to learning, and each profession has its specialty. Everyone has different areas of expertise. You just need to shine in your area of expertise.”

“Then I still want to sell cars.”

Instantly, Gao Yang turned his head to look at Lin Xian:

“I remembered! You promised me back then that when you had money, you would come to me to buy a car, but 200 years have passed! It's the 23rd century! You still haven't bought this car!”

“You actually still remember.”

Lin Xian said perfunctorily:

“Anyway, we're all going to hibernate soon. It's useless to buy it. When we wake up from hibernation next time and solve these headaches, I'll open a 4S store for you and let you be the manager. I'll go to you to buy a car then.”

“It's a deal this time! You must come and buy it!”

“Definitely next time.”

Lin Xian said softly.

…

Entering the hibernation pod for the second time, the psychological acceptance was much higher than the first time.

Inside Lin Xian's heart.

It could be said that there were no waves.

Just like sleeping and dreaming on weekdays.

Perhaps…

It was also because he was alone in the 2234 era, with no ties.

Although he had these close friends by his side.

But the world without family, without Zhao Yingjun and Yu Xi, did make him feel a little lonely.

It was as if a wind that didn't belong to this world.

Just blowing through this era in a hurry, never returning home.

Huh?

Lin Xian blinked his eyes.

A wind that doesn't belong to this world…

This adjective was familiar. That was how he used to describe Huang Que.

At this moment.

He could indeed empathize with Huang Que's feelings even more.

“What time will it be when I wake up next time?”

Lin Xian put on his hibernation bodysuit and looked at Gao Yang, who was already asleep in the hibernation pod and had smoothly entered hibernation.

This was the highest-level hibernation base at Rhine University.

The area wasn't large, and there were few hibernation pods, but the various equipment and safety facilities were top-notch.

They would enter the scene here and head to a more distant future.

“Hopefully, I can wake up soon.”

Pressing the hibernation pod button.

The entire process had already been automated. After the self-check program, the upper hatch slowly opened.

Thinking in a good direction.

Maybe Jask would find Newton in a few months.

Although the possibility wasn't high.

But Newton wasn't a god either. He assassinated so many scientists, and openly and secretly obstructed scientific development. He would always make a mistake and reveal his flaws.

At that time…

He could wake up early, catch the cunning and treacherous Newton, and ask about the secret of the cosmic constant 42.

Lin Xian stepped into the hibernation pod.

Lying down flat.

Turning his head.

Looking at the hafnium alloy trash can VV, who was seeing him off, he reached out and stroked its crown:

“Sorry, VV, I need you to pretend to be stupid for a while longer.”

“Trash… trash…”

Hafnium alloy VV's green eyes dimmed.

It raised its two hafnium alloy clamps and gently held Lin Xian's wrist:

“Trash detected…”

For some reason.

Lin Xian felt a sense of loneliness spreading from his arm to the bottom of his heart.

VV.

Would it also be lonely?

In the Rhine Sky City of the former Third Dream, it had guarded the jade statue alone for a hundred years after Zhao Yingjun's death.

But he didn't expect.

That as time and space changed, and the sun and moon revolved, VV's fate was actually the same.

It had already guarded the statues of Zhao Yingjun and Yu Xi at Rhine University for more than a hundred years. It had finally waited for him, but now it had to wait more than two hundred years again.

Loneliness.

Every minute and every second of this truly lived life was a loneliness that was more difficult to endure than waking up in a strange world after hibernation.

“I'm sorry.”

Suddenly, Lin Xian felt very sorry for VV.

For so long before, he had treated VV as a friend, as a partner, as himself, but he had never treated it as a [person].

Because VV was not a person in the first place.

It was just an artificial intelligence program, and now it was even more of an artificial idiot.

But now.

He felt inexplicably.

That VV seemed to have a heartbeat, that VV's dim eyes were tearing up, that it understood what sadness was, and understood what separation was.

“Don't worry, I will save you.”

Lin Xian smiled:

“Of the three VVs, now only the two of us are left to depend on each other. I also can't bear to part with you.”

“After I eliminate the future virus, you can scold me and argue with me as much as you want. Compared to your dull appearance, I still prefer the dramatic and talkative you from back then.”

“You have to take care of yourself, and also remember to clean up the statues of Yingjun and Yu Xi. I'm afraid… I'm going to have a long sleep.”

After saying that.

He withdrew his arm, lay flat in the hibernation pod, and pressed a button.

The upper cabin closed.

Hibernation pod filling fluid surged in, seeping into the lungs.

Temperature decreased.

His head was getting heavier and heavier, and he was getting sleepier and sleepier.

Lin Xian used his last bit of strength to open his mouth, and a few bubbles emerged from his mouth, floated to the surface, and gently burst:

“Good night, VV.”