The Huaxia Quantum Information and Quantum Innovation Research Institute, Office of the Dean.
Pan Jianguo took off the Virtual Reality Headset on his head, exiting True Apocalypse Game 1.0 with his face alight with excitement:
"It worked... It really worked! It’s actually possible! But what on earth is that mysterious element? Why does it possess such immense energy?"
Just yesterday, in True Apocalypse Game 1.0, he and some of his academic colleagues had joined forces to build a Space Wormhole Generator!
Although he knew that all the physics within the game were just computer-simulated scenarios, Pan Jianguo was thrilled nonetheless.
Because he also understood that even in the real world, the machine would function in exactly the same way!
However, the most crucial component was a special metallic element called "Beast Gold."
It was the immense energy contained within this substance that allowed the entire device to operate, turning the theory of Space Wormholes into a reality.
He also understood that, at present, no such element existed on Earth.
It was, one might say, an element that existed only in legend.
Perhaps such a thing could only be found in the vast expanse of the Cosmos.
Leaning back against the sofa behind him, Pan Jianguo slumped into the seat, a look of regret and despondency appearing on his face.
What a pity...
It was a pity that this was all just a game. Without that high-density energy substance in reality, all these theories were just empty talk, still stuck at the theoretical stage.
Perhaps they would never become real.
’If only that element actually existed in the real world... In that case, we could build a truly controllable Wormhole Generator. That would have extraordinary significance for all of human civilization.’
’Its importance would be no less than humanity’s first discovery of fire!’
’And on a personal level, I’m confident I could make Huaxia the first nation to possess this technology. If that happened, it would turn the tables on so many things.’
As Pan Jianguo thought about this, he let out a sigh.
Such a shame...
Just then, the Virtual Reality Headset in his hand suddenly vibrated, alerting him to a new message.
Pan Jianguo frowned, picked up the headset, and put it on again.
The next moment, a line of text appeared before his eyes:
"You have been granted an opportunity to travel to the Shield UY space laboratory in the real world. Do you agree to go?"
The moment he saw this line of text, Pan Jianguo froze. At first, he thought it was some kind of prank, but then his breathing instantly grew ragged, and his entire body trembled.
At the end of the message was the symbol of a blood-red eye.
This message was from the "True Apocalypse Game"!
The Shield UY Star Realm in the real world!?
A space laboratory!?
Seeing this, Pan Jianguo thought he must be hallucinating from spending too much time in the game. He quickly took off the headset, rubbed his eyes, and then put it back on.
Yes, the message was still there!
And below the message, there was a "Yes/No" option, awaiting his choice.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Pan Jianguo immediately chose "Yes."
Although he hadn’t been playing the True Apocalypse Game for very long, his various experiences within it had convinced him that its developer was definitely an entity with benevolent intentions toward human civilization.
Otherwise, there was no way they would have helped humanity through so many crises, nor would they have revealed technologies like Space Wormholes and the Quantum Force Field Core, which were decades, even centuries, ahead of human civilization.
Pan Jianguo had also noticed that the technology provided by the other party seemed to have some imperfections. However, in his view, this was perhaps a small difficulty or test, set by that entity to make humans understand that none of this was simple.
It was all done to make human civilization cherish these technologies and opportunities.
After choosing "Yes," Pan Jianguo immediately picked up his phone.
’I wonder how the game’s developer will take me to the Shield UY Star Realm?’
’A spaceship? A self-made Space Wormhole? Or will they use the existing undersea Space Wormhole?’
’But if that’s the case, they’ll need a ship, and one with submersible capabilities at that.’
’Does the developer really possess such technology?’
’Are they even human? Or are they an intelligent being from another planet?’
’Besides, if I really do go with them to Shield UY, how do I explain this to my family? To the nation?’
’After all, I made this decision on my own. For a scientist of my level, even leaving the country isn’t a simple matter—it would definitely violate political protocol. Going "off-planet" now will probably be even more troublesome.’
Although he was both anxious and excited, and eagerly looked forward to the real-world space laboratory in the Shield UY Star Realm the other party mentioned, Pan Jianguo also knew there were far too many issues to resolve. This wasn’t something that could be finished simply by pressing a "Yes" button.
His thoughts were in a turmoil, and for a moment, he felt like that impetuous young man he once was, waiting for whatever was about to happen next.
’No matter what, I should at least treat it like a business trip and say goodbye to my family first. If I’m really going to the Shield UY Star Realm, there probably won’t be any signal over there...’
As Pan Jianguo was thinking, he found his family’s phone number and was about to dial.
Just then, a voice called out from the hallway outside his door:
"Dean Pan, you’re here."
It was followed by a gentle voice that was incredibly familiar:
"Mm, Xiaowang, you worked overtime again yesterday? Working on the project is good, but don’t wear yourself out."
Then, a set of footsteps approached his office door.
Pan Jianguo froze, then suddenly realized why that voice was so familiar.
It was his own voice!
The next moment, the office door was twisted open, and a figure of medium height with salt-and-pepper hair and glasses pushed the door open and entered.
The moment he saw this person, Pan Jianguo shot to his feet in shock.
The person who had entered was himself!
Wearing a light blue shirt, square-framed glasses, with his hair parted, an ordinary face, and the fine lines etched by long years of scientific research.
It was him!
"You... I..." Pan Jianguo’s eyes widened as he stared at the "himself" before him, at a loss for words.
"Ha, no need to be nervous," the other "him" said reassuringly with a warm smile. "The Commander sent me to pick you up. The taxi is outside. Just get in and go to the docks. There’s an ocean-going fishing boat moored there, the Hu Yu 6823. Someone will meet you when you arrive."
Pan Jianguo took a deep breath, quickly calmed himself, looked the other man straight in the eye, and asked slowly:
"What... are you?"
The "him" before him smiled faintly, then suddenly grabbed his own head with both hands. With a hard pull, his neck suddenly stretched out, as soft as a noodle, and his head was placed directly on the desk!
Then, the visitor’s entire body rippled like a wave, instantly melting into a pool of semi-liquid silver before abruptly coalescing back into its previous human form, smiling at Pan Jianguo.
Seeing this, Pan Jianguo couldn’t help but gasp in shock.
"This is... Nanomechanical Cluster technology!? You’ve actually mastered such powerful technology!?"
Then, as if he’d thought of something, he said with a dry, self-mocking laugh:
"I was about to ask if this was some conspiracy cooked up by a foreign intelligence agency, but now it seems I was overthinking it... If an enemy nation truly had this technology, they probably would have just kicked down our door by now. There’s no point in kidnapping a single quantum physics researcher like me. I guess I overestimated my own importance."
Hearing this, the visitor said gravely:
"No, Mr. Pan. You are indeed a pillar of the nation, a rising star in the field of quantum physics. That is precisely why I chose you."
Hearing this, Pan Jianguo suddenly understood something. He looked up at the visitor before him, his voice trembling as he spoke:
"The developer!? No... Commander!? You’re here!?"