"By the way, Professor, we're also short an actor for a character with a scientist background. You seem like a perfect fit. Interested in giving it a try?"
I'm sorry, I'm just an ordinary scholar. I haven't studied acting and have no particular interest in playing a film role.
Einstein wanted to say this, but the words stuck in her throat and wouldn't come out.
This big patron had just donated an entire research building to her. Refusing so bluntly would be far too lacking in social grace.
She smiled and nodded.
"Of course. Students always say I'm too rigid, which creates distance from them and isn't conducive to teaching."
"I've heard some scholars make cameo appearances in films. Perhaps I could give it a try as well. It might improve my image and bring me closer to my students."
Of course, all of this was pleasantry.
The real situation was—he had given too much...
Lucius didn't call out her actual thoughts, and instead asked Einstein another question—also his second important purpose in coming to Caltech.
"Professor, do you believe extraterrestrial life exists in this world?"
"Huh?" Lucius's question spanned such a vast distance that Einstein froze for a moment.
But despite the puzzlement in her heart, she still answered according to her knowledge.
"Given the scale of the universe and the number of planets, extraterrestrial life most likely exists somewhere."
"However, Lucius, why do you ask? You know I don't specialize in researching extraterrestrial life."
"I have a friend here from an alien civilization. Are you interested, Professor?"
"You mean an actual alien?" Surprise appeared on Einstein's face. "Not the fictional ones from movies, but a genuinely extraterrestrial life form?"
"Although it might be a bit different from what you'd imagine, they are indeed real aliens."
What Lucius was referring to was naturally the alien species.
"They exist as consciousness entities, normally concealed within the Sea of Quanta in some kind of peculiar vessel, observing the progress of human civilization in the real world."
"I happen to have an individual belonging to their kind here. I'd like you to find a way to send a message into the Sea of Quanta through its consciousness."
For Lucius, what was still missing from Himeko's production were the two alien supporting actors—the Sugar and the Sky People.
He already had a solution for the Sky People portion and just needed to wait for word from Vill-V.
As for the aliens... beyond needing them to appear in the production, Lucius also wanted to bring them onto his side.
Although they were aliens, judging from the extremely high moral caliber they demonstrated in the storyline—
Compared with the various quasi-human upper echelons of the pre-civilization era, it was genuinely hard to say who was more like actual humans...
Besides, he was quite interested in the Sugar's Outer Key—that Divine Key capable of manipulating dimensional power.
But these little black blobs mostly stayed hidden inside the Outer Key called the Candy House, and basically never interfered in human society's development.
Because of that, actually finding them was an extraordinarily difficult matter.
Fortunately, Lucius had already thought of a solution, and the key point was—Shigure Kira.
The Shigure Kira of fifty thousand years in the future was host to a alien individual named "Brown Sugar."
Through this externally residing alien individual, he might be able to contact the alien entities living within the Outer Key.
As for a alien symbiote, the Shigure Kira of this era naturally didn't have one. But after loading the stigmata of Shigure Kira from fifty thousand years later, she did.
Although called a stigmata, Lucius had always felt it should be called a character card.
And Shigure Kira's powers naturally included the power she derived from the alien within her, since alien themselves were consciousness entities.
What he needed to do was use the connection between the alien symbiote within Shigure Kira and the Outer Key to send a message to the alien collective.
"To think there are actually real aliens in this world." After listening to Lucius's explanation, Einstein's curiosity grew intense.
She didn't specialize in researching aliens, but curiosity was always the common trait of scholars.
But soon, Einstein sensed something was off. She gently shook her head and said with a smile:
"We were just discussing Miss Himeko's enrollment a moment ago. I didn't expect us to somehow end up talking about aliens."
"The jump... is a bit large. If a student wrote a paper like this, I'd probably give them a failing grade..."
But hearing her words, Lucius showed a strange expression.
"A large jump? Not really? Haven't we been discussing film production issues the whole time?"
"Aliens are also for the film?"
"What else would they be for?"
Einstein and Lucius sat facing each other, staring blankly.
In the end, the corner of Einstein's mouth twitched slightly.
"You don't mean to say that seeking out aliens is also for filming the movie, do you?"
"Of course it's for filming the movie!"
Lucius looked at her as if puzzled how such a great scholar could ask such a strange question.
"Without real aliens, how could anyone properly portray alien characters?"
After finalizing the plan to contact the aliens with Einstein, Lucius strapped the Shigure Kira who had been wandering around Caltech onto an examination table.
"Wait, you're not going to dissect me, are you?!"
Looking at the blue-haired girl tied to the chair, flopping around like a fish out of water, Lucius said:
"Even the cheapest of Professor Einstein's instruments starts at a million dollars. If you actually break something, you'll be working as a lab rat to pay off the debt."
Hearing this, Shigure Kira stopped struggling and lay on the examination table like a dried fish that had lost all its dreams.
At this point, Einstein walked over carrying a helmet connected to numerous wires, smiling as she offered reassurance:
"Don't worry. I'm not that Dr. Mobius. I won't be slicing you up."
She fitted the helmet on Shigure Kira's head, made a few adjustments, and the indicator lights on the helmet's surface blinked several times.
Shigure Kira's pupils instantly became hollow, her whole being as if her soul had been extracted, lying limply on the platform.
And in the next moment, an oil-black liquid appeared floating on Shigure Kira's surface from thin air.
This liquid, like living slime, wrapped around Shigure Kira's body, giving off a sinister and menacing impression.
Since Lucius had already informed Einstein of some Schicksal intelligence beforehand, neither of them panicked.
Facing the black liquid seeping out from Shigure Kira and writhing with clawing movements, Lucius felt around in his pocket, then produced a lollipop he had pilfered from Bronya.
After tearing open the wrapper, he tossed it to the black liquid.
The black liquid formed into a ferocious gaping maw and swallowed the candy in one gulp. After chewing a few times, it gradually settled down.
Lucius looked at Einstein and said with a smile:
"The alien species seems to have an extreme fondness for sweets. I was only trying it out, but it actually worked. No need to resort to forceful methods then."
"Professor, it's your turn now."
Einstein nodded, walked to the operation interface of the examination table, and tapped a few keys on the keyboard.
Then she turned to Lucius and said:
"All done. I've scanned the consciousness symbiotic with this young lady, decoded and converted it into a quantum signal, and transmitted it into the Sea of Quanta."
"If it's truly as you say—that these aliens' consciousnesses are interconnected—they should be able to sense it."
At this point, Lucius knew that the primary purpose of his visit had been largely accomplished.
And next, the target was Einstein herself.
Lucius was preparing to bring her on board.
"Professor, I hear you've been conducting research on the Sea of Quanta?"
The so-called Sea of Quanta was a special dimension bearing that name.
And the Einstein before him could be said to be the person of the pre-civilization era with the deepest research into the quantum domain.
"I wouldn't dare claim much progress, but there have been some findings." Einstein didn't understand why Lucius had suddenly brought up this topic, but replied modestly nonetheless.
But compared to theoretical research on the Sea of Quanta, Lucius was actually more interested in the application of related technologies.
"Doctor, I'd like to know—how confident are you in being able to venture deep into the Sea of Quanta for exploration?"
"If you're referring to a submersible device for the Sea of Quanta, a viable plan already exists now. The uncertainty is just too great, and the danger coefficient too high."
When speaking about research related to her own work, Einstein showed tremendous enthusiasm.
"To truly perfect the exploration technology for the Sea of Quanta will likely still require considerable time."
"Is there any way to accelerate it?"
"Of course. As for actual experimental exploration, the real issue is still cost. Each attempt requires consuming a great deal of resources."
"I've already submitted an application to the Science Federation of the Mu Continent. They will submit a proposal to the United Government."
"If it passes approval, the funding issue should be resolved."
Listening to Einstein's explanation, Lucius pondered for a moment, then suddenly said to her:
"Professor, would you be interested in accepting an investment?"
"What?" Einstein was puzzled.
Lucius produced a map from somewhere, spreading it open across Shigure Kira's stomach as she lay there stiff as a board.
Then using a pen he drew a circle around a certain location in the Pacific Ocean.
"I want to build a facility specifically dedicated to exploring the Sea of Quanta at this location. Professor, would you be interested in providing some guidance?"
Einstein looked at Lucius, gradually furrowing her brow. She suddenly couldn't figure out what this person before her was trying to do.
"This would require a great deal of money. A very, very great deal of money..."
Listening to Einstein's words, the corners of Lucius's mouth gradually curved into a sunny smile.
"Professor, money has never been the problem."
"But I need an expert with extraordinarily deep research in the quantum domain to oversee this project."
Soon, Lucius and Einstein discussed plans for constructing a Sea of Quanta detection facility to be called "Abyss City."
The Sea of Quanta would have quite a significant role in later storylines.
In fact, if some counterparts couldn't be found in the real world afterward, he might even need to venture into the Sea of Quanta to try his luck.
After finalizing the cooperation plan, Einstein's expression became extremely excited, bright light flickering in her eyes.
And Lucius's eyes similarly flickered with an indescribable light.
Although the other party's appearance was identical to that of the Anti-Entropy scientist fifty thousand years in the future, Lucius knew the two couldn't be considered equivalent.
This Einstein was one of the exceptions within the cycle of two civilizations. She was simultaneously a counterpart of both the post-civilization Einstein and Tesla.
She was both Einstein's counterpart and Tesla's counterpart.
Therefore, to ensure that subsequent storylines could proceed smoothly, he had to bring this great scientist onto his side as well.
And this pre-civilization Professor Einstein before him—this blend of Einstein and Tesla's qualities—was the person who had walked furthest down this particular path.
So whether for the purpose of exploring the Sea of Quanta, or for the sake of the storylines ahead, this Einstein absolutely had to be brought on board.
After finalizing the Abyss City project, Lucius knew the other party basically had no way to escape anymore.
And just like that, Einstein's life was ruined.
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