Chapter 226: The World Line and the Time-Space Clock

As the morning sun began to rise, Lin Xian found himself comfortably seated in a business car provided by his company, making his way to the airport. This special arrangement came courtesy of Brother Wang, a top executive at Rhine Company.

“Whether you’re hands-on or not, you’re the face of Rhine Company,” Brother Wang had explained earlier. “It’s essential we provide you with a vehicle that reflects our image. You are, after all, the company’s business card.”

Originally, Brother Wang wanted to provide Lin Xian with the most opulent business car available, but Lin Xian had other ideas. “Why draw unnecessary attention? Plus, Rhine Company is barely off the ground. We’ve just started with the Rhine Cat brand and our main business is partnering with MX Company on the Rhine series. Most of our funding—forty billion—came as ‘investments’ from Zhao Ying Jun and Chu Shan He. It wouldn’t make sense for me to drive something overly extravagant at this stage.”

“Just find me something practical,” Lin Xian had told Brother Wang. “Zhao Ying Jun’s car model will do. It’s comfortable enough.”

“Comfortable?!” Brother Wang exclaimed, a bit taken aback by the simplicity of the request.

Lin Xian sighed, “Brother Wang, remember you’re a vice president now. Try to act the part, and keep the jokes clean. You’re as much a representative of our company’s image as I am. We should both conduct ourselves accordingly.”

Eventually, Brother Wang arranged for Lin Xian to use a business car identical to the one Zhao Ying Jun favored.

Now, cruising along the airport expressway, Lin Xian appreciated the car’s excellent shock absorption and soundproofing. He reclined in his seat, closing his eyes to ponder a puzzle from a dream he’d had the night before.

The presence of Time Bank in his third dream had initially been dismissed due to a casual remark by a store clerk. However, Lin Xian realized that the absence of records didn’t mean the safety deposit boxes were gone. What if Time Bank had undergone a merger, acquisition, or a complete restructuring? If it could go bankrupt in his second dream, why couldn’t it be bought out and rebranded in the third?

Additionally, Lin Xian considered that Time Bank might not be in the futuristic Rhine Sky City but rather in the Old Donghai area—known simply as Donghai in his third dream, where characters like Big Cat Face and Li Ning Ning resided. He had never explored the surface area extensively; Time Bank could very well be hidden in some corner of that old world.

Lin Xian was also convinced that CC, with her unique abilities to retain memories across different timelines, couldn’t have just vanished. She was extraordinary, more so than his own dream-induced capabilities. If CC appeared in his third dream, she would likely remember their shared experiences from the second dream, allowing them to pick up their friendship right where they left off.

“I need to first decode the mystery left by Zhao Ying Jun,” Lin Xian mused as he checked the date on his phone. “Once I uncover her clues, I’ll search for CC and the safety deposit box. She’s bound to reappear sooner or later.”

It was mid-June 2023, and the year was swiftly passing. According to what he’d learned in the second dream about New Donghai City, Time Bank’s most recent establishment was slated for no later than 2024.

“Time is ticking for Time Bank. It’s likely to start operations in the latter half of this year.”

Once Time Bank opened its doors in the real world, Lin Xian would be able to connect his dreams to reality, bridging past and future. That moment would mark the beginning of his journey to unravel the secrets hidden within the safety deposit box.

At the bustling airport arrival hall, Lin Xian was relieved to see Liu Feng, who had just landed with considerable luggage. The driver, already briefed, efficiently loaded the bags into the trunk. Lin Xian noted the renewed determination in Liu Feng’s eyes, a clear shift from the deep sorrow he’d carried since Qi Qi’s passing.

“I can’t just sit around waiting for Qi Qi to grant my wishes from heaven, can I? If I truly want the Universal Constant to be recognized, I must first prove its correctness and value,” Liu Feng had confided over a phone call, updating Lin Xian on his new focus. “Of course, you’re right. Lin Xian, you are my benefactor, so I’ll listen to you. I won’t publicize any research results and won’t let anyone else know about them. Although I don’t fully understand your emphasis on safety, I trust your judgment, especially after many scientists recently met with ‘accidents.'”

This had been a crucial point of advice from Lin Xian. Both he and his close colleague Ji Lin agreed on the sinister undertones of the so-called 00:42 murderer incident—they suspected that two groups were involved, with one poorly imitating the other.

The picture had since become clear. The real perpetrators at 00:42 were the members of the Genius Club, while Ji Xin Shui and his followers were mere imitators.

Lin Xian had pieced together a disturbing pattern. Both Ji Lin’s parents and Big Cat Face’s father, all mathematicians, were likely victims of the Genius Club. This led Lin Xian to a grim conclusion: the Genius Club’s primary targets seemed to be mathematicians, while Ji Xin Shui might have gone after other scientists based on his own misguided decisions. This theory wasn’t foolproof, but the supporting evidence was compelling.

Firstly, the Genius Club’s interest in the mysterious number 42, linked to the Universal Constant, was undeniable. In his second dream, Lin Xian learned they had kidnapped Big Cat Face’s father, likely out of fear related to this number. Since the Universal Constant was a profound mathematical issue, and despite the demise of most of the Seven Deadly Sins, Liu Feng’s research into this number made him a potential target. The enemy was still largely unknown, their motives shrouded in secrecy.

Therefore, extreme caution was necessary. Lin Xian had decided that only he and Liu Feng should be privy to the details of the Universal Constant 42, keeping their circle tight to avoid any leaks that could put them at greater risk.

His friend, Lin Xian, nodded thoughtfully, processing the information. “So, you’re suggesting that everything in space-time, including the very scales of space and time themselves, is based on the Planck Constant. If the Planck Constant changes, it would mean a shift in the curvature of space-time. Essentially, any fluctuation in space-time—like the ripple effects from a butterfly’s wings—could change this curvature, and that change would be reflected in the Planck Constant.”

Liu Feng’s smile broadened as he saw understanding dawn on Lin Xian’s face. “You’ve got it,” he said. “This device, which resembles a clock, is essentially a detector for changes in the Planck Constant. If its readings change, that indicates a shift in space-time curvature, confirming my hypothesis.”

His excitement was palpable as he added, “If the numbers on this clock change, it would prove that space-time curvature is real and likely connected to the Universal Constants. Let’s call it the ‘Time-Space Clock.’ It’s a tool for measuring the curvature of space-time.”

Lin Xian’s mind raced to a popular anime, Steins;Gate, which explored similar ideas of world lines and space-time manipulation. These concepts, once the domain of Albert Einstein, had permeated popular culture, often used to describe parallel universes and time fluctuations.

“In layman’s terms, a world line tracks an object’s journey from the past to the future,” Lin Xian explained, connecting the dots. “If an event causes a significant shift, known as a world line divergence, it indicates a change in the space-time curvature. Even small discrepancies, like the renaming of ‘Coco Cat’ to ‘Rhine Cat,’ suggest minor shifts. More substantial transitions, such as moving between dream worlds, signify larger curvatures.”

“Exactly,” Lin Xian concluded, feeling a surge of comprehension. “Any event that impacts the future can trigger a butterfly effect, altering space-time. Your Time-Space Clock measures these shifts in space-time curvature, or world line divergence.”

Liu Feng gave him a thumbs-up, impressed. “You’re really sharp.”

“But why is the display still showing zero?” Lin Xian asked, frowning slightly.

“Because there hasn’t been any detectable change in space-time curvature yet,” Liu Feng explained calmly.

“No, there has to have been a change,” Lin Xian insisted. He remembered a crucial date. “When did you create this Time-Space Clock?”

“Early May,” Liu Feng answered.

Lin Xian grinned and patted the device. “Then it must be off. It didn’t pick up any changes on May 20th.”

He was sure of it; founding the Rhine Company on that day had marked a significant shift in their space-time, shaping a new future. If the clock missed such a major event, it could be due to precision issues or something more fundamental.

Yet Liu Feng remained adamant. “I swear, this device is precise. I calibrated it exactly to our current space-time Planck Constant. If there’s a shift, it will detect it!”

“But your baseline is flawed,” Lin Xian countered, his tone becoming more serious. “You need an external reference to measure changes effectively. Using our current space-time as the reference will always return zero, much like trying to gauge your own speed without a fixed point.”

Realization dawned on Liu Feng, and a flush of embarrassment colored his cheeks. He admitted, “You’re right. We need a reference from another space-time dimension.”

“But where could we possibly find such an object?” Liu Feng mused aloud, his mind racing through possibilities.

The tension was broken by a light, female voice from the doorway. “Who says it’s impossible?”

Both men turned to see Yellow Finch, a woman with striking blue eyes and an enigmatic smile, stepping confidently into the room.

“Lin Xian, long time no see,” she greeted, her presence promising new insights and perhaps, the solution they needed.

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation