840 lines
63 KiB
XML
840 lines
63 KiB
XML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
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<data>
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<img>
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<image src="zeta_function.png" type="background"/>
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</img>
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<story title="1">
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<scene id="0" background="bg.jpg">
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<bgm src="mid-lude.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
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<cg src="newChapter.png" bg="bg.jpg"></cg>
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<goto goto="10" change="#000000"/>
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</scene>
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<scene id="10" background="corridorMessy.jpg">
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<bgm src="lab.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
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<text>Compared to the tidy and orderly ground floor, the private space on the top floor is quite simply Hell on Earth.</text>
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<text>A few minutes ago, Welt would never have predicted that he would find these items outside a girl's bedroom — </text>
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<text>Pizza boxes piled together like Jenga.</text> <!-- Note that Jenga was not invented until the 1980s -->
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<text>Wastepaper piled into bins and forming trash heaps the size of small mountains.</text>
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<text>Bras, undergarments and stockings, hang-drying everywhere.</text>
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<text>Mysterious electronic devices discarded and tossed against a corner, their surfaces covered with dust.</text>
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<text>It's hard to imagine how: but perhaps because the cleaners won't come upstairs, everything has now turned into this hair-raising spectacle.</text>
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<text>Now, if there is the tiniest, most remote possibilty, that this scene is actually typical for private residences of countless single ladies everywhere — God knows how many gentlemen will be left shellshocked and heartbroken?</text>
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<text>At least, right now, Welt is searching for Room 203 with a heavy heart.</text>
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<sound src="8_24_knock_door.mp3"/>
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<text>“Knock Knock.”</text>
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<text>…</text>
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<sound src="8_24_door_lock.mp3"/>
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<text>“Click.”</text>
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<text>Somewhat surprisingly, the door opened rather quickly — </text>
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<bgm src="themeTesla.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
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<text>No! That was the sound of a door locking!</text>
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<show chara="weltShameClose" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">… Dr Tesla! I-I do not come upstairs willingly!</speak>
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<show chara="weltShameClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaAngryNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<shake position="center" time="250"></shake>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Huh? Are you trying to say you're sleepwalking, Assistant Welt?</speak>
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<text> From the other side of the door transmits a grumpy and energetic voice — no doubt it's the real deal, none other than Tesla herself.</text>
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<show chara="weltShameClose" position="left"/>
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<show chara="teslaAngryNightyQ" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">N-n-no, I'm not…</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Uh …</speak>
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<show chara="weltNormalClose" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace"> I mean … It was Dr Einstein who asked me to come and wake you up …</speak>
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<show chara="weltNormalClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">I wasn't asleep!</speak>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraNightyQ" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Umm …</speak>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Okay then … Anyway, we're going to take the next flight to America …</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaBoringNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">W-w-w-wait — </speak>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace"> — To where?</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left"/>
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<show chara="teslaBoringNightyQ" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">To America.</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaBoringNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace"> — Now?</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left"/>
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<show chara="teslaBoringNightyQ" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Yes …</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaBoringNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">… “America”, as in the “United States of America”?</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left"/>
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<show chara="teslaBoringNightyQ" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Correct … Western USA … Montana …</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaAngryNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<shake position="center" time="250"></shake>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">… Have you gone mad?</speak>
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<show chara="teslaAngryNightyQ" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltShameClose" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">I don't understand the situation either!</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">It was just that the short-sleeves — no, glasses — no, the Finn showed her a strange letter, then she immediately became all serious about it …</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaBoringNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">… What the heck?</speak>
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<show chara="teslaBoringNightyQ" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltNormalClose" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Um … the letter said something about finding some ancient pasttimes …</speak>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Hmm … and some words I didn't recognise …</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Ah, that's right! The sender's name was Sch … er, someone called Schr … what was it — </speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace"> — It's Schrödinger!</speak>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraNightyQ" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltNormalClose" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Y-y-yes! Schrödinger, it was from Schrödinger.</speak>
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<show chara="weltNormalClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaAngryNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<shake position="center" time="250"></shake>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Planck that old hag, once again using her own students to pick up fresh meat!</speak>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left"/>
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<show chara="teslaAngryNightyQ" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">… Huh?</speak>
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<show chara="teslaAngryNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<show chara="weltSurpriseClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<shake position="center" time="250"></shake>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">You don't need to know!</speak>
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<show chara="teslaAngryNightyQ" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltNormalClose" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Um …</speak>
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<show chara="weltNormalClose" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaAngryNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<shake position="center" time="250"></shake>
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<sound src="8_24_mess.mp3"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Clearly, she's mine! … Clearly, so is Lab 42! … Clearly — </speak>
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<text>The topic is beginning to sound a bit too dangerous, so Welt, standing outside the door, can only cover his ears and keep mute as a mouse. But the dreadful ringing and clattering of her shrill voice continues incessantly, piercing through the door into his eardrums.</text>
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<text>…</text>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraNightyQ" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">All right!</speak>
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<goto goto="20" change="0"/>
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</scene>
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<scene id="20" background="black">
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<bgm src="themeTesla.mp3" status="stop"></bgm>
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<sound src="hit man.mp3"/>
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<text>Clatter scatter.</text>
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<text>The poor young man had fallen onto a pile of pizza boxes, and is now sprawled out on his back, eyes glazed, mouth agape.</text>
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<text>The door had swung open without warning — startling Welt, who unfortunately back-pedalled onto the pizza boxes — and without much force, slipped and fell.</text>
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<text>But that is not the most important thing.</text>
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<goto goto="25" change="0"/>
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</scene>
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<scene id="25" background="corridorMessy.jpg">
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<bgm src="lab.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
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<show chara="teslaNormalNightyClose" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">T—Te — </speak>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraNightyClose" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Urgh you pest! Did your fall give you brain damage as well? Move aside!</speak>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Dr Tesla! It's not yet summer outside!</speak>
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<show chara="teslaBoringNightyClose" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Huh? What are you talking about?</speak>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">I mean, that … y-y-you …</speak>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraNightyClose" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Y-y-you what? You stuttering fool. M-m-move!</speak>
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<show chara="teslaBoringNightyClose" position="center"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">… You're wearing only a nightgown right now, aren't you?!</speak>
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<bgm src="lab.mp3" status="stop"></bgm>
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<goto goto="28" change="0"/>
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</scene>
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<scene id="28" background="white">
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<sound src="hit man.mp3"/>
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<text>And with a muffled sound, Welt's “Welt” comes crashing down, instantly transforming into a sea of white.</text> <!-- Remember that Welt means "World" in German.-->
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<goto goto="30"/>
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</scene>
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<scene id="30" background="carNoon.jpg">
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<bgm src="street.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
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<show chara="weltTiredSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<show chara="nokiaSmileHandUpClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Hnngh — O-o-ow.</speak>
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<text article="1">
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<p class="article-text">Welt is seated in the front row of a temporarily-borrowed Volkswagen Beetle alongside the driver — the Finn with the gold-rimmed glasses. Welt lightly touches his head.</p>
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<br />
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<p class="article-text">Sure enough, it now sports a bump.</p>
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<br />
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<p class="article-text">But having said that … my life is still intact. Perhaps that alone is worth a three-day holiday?</p>
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</text>
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<goto goto="32" change="0"/>
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</scene>
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<scene id="32" background="CG3.jpg">
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<bgm src="street.mp3" status="continue"></bgm>
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<text>Squinting at the back seat through the rearview mirror, Welt spies the source of his suffering, using her compact mirror to calmly draw on her lipstick.</text>
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<text>Welt can't understand how such a person is capable of tossing her own living space into a complete shambles.</text>
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<text>It's even messier than Einstein's hairdo next to her.</text>
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<text> — And in a hurry, she had almost forgotten to change her clothes before they departed.</text>
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<text article="1">
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<p class="article-text">But perhaps more difficult to understand is this — where did she find that light billowing shawl, and fine one-piece dress? Not a single wrinkle on it. Anyone who has seen those Jenga stacks of pizza-boxes would be certain that this girl must have a four-dimensional wardrobe.</p>
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<p class="article-text">No, it should be the other way around — Whoever's seen this lovely cute girl before me, would never believe that she in fact lives in a pigsty, right?</p>
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</text>
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<text>The young woman in question, who now appears rather neat and fresh (on the surface) begins to put away her mirror. Welt hurriedly averts his gaze.</text>
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<text>Out of the corner of his eyes, he notices the corners of the Finn's mouth curl briefly into a sly smile.</text>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">…</speak>
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<text>Stick to driving the car!</text>
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<speak chara="einNoFace">Hey.</speak>
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<text>Just as Welt was beginning to feel miserable, Einstein hands him a document wallet from the back seat.</text>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Is this … for me?</speak>
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<text>Welt takes the paper wallet. Inside, there appears to be several small hardbound booklets.</text>
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<speak chara="einNoFace">Mm-hmm. Open it and have a look. </speak>
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<speak chara="einNoFace">You'll need them later.</speak>
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<goto goto="35" change="0"/>
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</scene>
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<scene id="35" background="carNoon.jpg">
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<bgm src="street.mp3" status="continue"></bgm>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">…</speak>
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<text>One of the booklets is a passport. </text>
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<text>The wallet also contains a work permit of the Imperial Institute, and some documents to guarantee movement through Immigration.</text>
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<show chara="weltNormalSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Welt Joyce?</speak>
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<text>Printed on the passport is one such name, half-familiar, half-foreign.</text>
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<show chara="teslaSmileDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<show chara="weltNormalSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Ah … Joyce is a surname taken from an author.</speak>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace" remark="next">Do you know “Ulysses”?</speak>
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<remark post="U2FsdGVkX19Pnf400VtQNsGpiWZl">
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<p class="article-text-h">Note:</p>
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<p class="article-text">“Ulysses” is a novel written by Irish modernist writer James Joyce in 1922.</p>
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<p class="article-text">The novel chronicles the daily life of the protagonist — a distressed Dubliner, a salesman by the name of Leopold Bloom — in Dublin during the day and night of June 16, 1904. </p>
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<p class="article-text">“Ulysses” is a masterpiece of the stream-of-consciousness genre, and is hailed as one of the top 100 English novels of the 20th century. Each year, June 16 is commemorated as “Bloom Day”.</p>
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</remark>
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<show chara="teslaSmileDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltNormalSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Ulysses? … You mean the Latin name for “Odysseus”?</speak>
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<show chara="weltNormalSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaNormalDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">No …</speak>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Well … I shouldn't have expected you to know that. Just pretend I never asked.</speak>
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<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Anyway, make sure you remember the name she gave you, and avoid giving yourself away in front of Customs.</speak>
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<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltScaredSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Giving myself away … wait, is this documentation forged?</speak>
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<text>After all, the name “Welt” was just made up by Einstein not that long ago.</text>
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<show chara="weltScaredSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaSmileDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Well, it depends on how you look at it.</speak>
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<show chara="teslaSnickerDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Just pretend it's — “an official certificate issued by a civilian without explicit permission”.</speak>
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<show chara="teslaSnickerDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltScaredSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">What kind of justification is that?</speak>
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<show chara="weltScaredSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaSmileDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Look, it's something we can't reveal!</speak>
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<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace"> But if you start acting all weird, our Righteous Friends of Justice from Scotland Yard will start investigating and asking difficult questions — and I do not particularly welcome that idea.</speak>
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<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltScaredSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Isn't Scotland Yard a criminal police organisation?! Not the Home Office?!</speak> <!-- Added "Home Office" to clarify -->
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<show chara="weltScaredSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">… Gosh, how could an amnesiac like you remember something as obscure as that?</speak>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace"> Who planted such ideas in your head? I just mean the police, okay? Any police!</speak>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltTiredSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Erm …</speak>
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<show chara="weltTiredSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="einNormalCoatClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="einNoFace">Relax.</speak>
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<show chara="einSmileCoatClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="einNoFace">Just remember your name and you'll be fine.</speak>
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<show chara="einSmileCoatClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltNormalSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">… Mm-hmm.</speak>
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<show chara="weltNormalSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Ah.</speak>
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<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltNormalSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">What now?</speak>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<show chara="weltNormalSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">None of your damn business.</speak>
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<show chara="teslaNormalDressClose-up" position="left"/>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Hey Finn, what did you do with your son?</speak>
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<text>“Son”. For a brief moment, Welt was unable to parse the exact meaning of this word in his brain.</text>
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<show chara="teslaNormalDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="nokiaSmileHandUpClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">It's fine, I've already called his school.</speak>
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<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">It's not the first time Joachim has been put in such a situation. He'll be okay.</speak>
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<show chara="nokiaSmileHandUpClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
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<text>Joachim. Seems like that's the name of the Finn's son …</text>
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<text>Wait.</text>
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<text>Son?</text>
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<shake position="all" time="250"></shake>
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<text>So in other words, Mr Gold-rimmed Glasses here, he has a son who is already attending school?</text>
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<hide position="left"/>
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<hide position="right"/>
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<show chara="teslaAngryDressClose-up" position="center"/>
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<shake position="center" time="250"></shake>
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<speak chara="teslaNoFace">What are you doing, blanking out again? You blockhead! Hurry up and memorise your name!</speak>
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<text>With a karate chop, Twintails strikes Welt's head at the exact spot where the lump is growing.</text>
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<text>Most certainly a deliberate and targeted manoeuvre.</text>
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<hide position="center"/>
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<show chara="teslaAngryDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="weltTiredSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">O-o-ow…</speak>
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<show chara="weltScaredSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
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<speak chara="weltNoFace">Y-you, how could you be sure I wasn't busy doing that just now?!</speak>
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<show chara="weltScaredSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
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<show chara="teslaEmbarraDressClose-up" position="left"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Hmph. Idiot.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">You're obviously envious of Finn the family man, right?</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaEmbarraDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="weltTiredSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">Urgh …</speak>
|
|
<show chara="weltTiredSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaNormalDressClose-up" position="left" />
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Miss “Yang”.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaNormalDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="weltNormalSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">Huh?</speak>
|
|
<show chara="weltNormalSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaSnickerDressClose-up" position="left" />
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Henrietta Yang, a young and promising archaeologist, a beauty of mixed German-Chinese heritage. She's the Finn's wife. However —</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace"> — she is also a very busy lady who can only be at home for around ten days a year. How about you also try raising a child by yourself?</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaNormalDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="weltTiredSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">Oh …</speak>
|
|
<show chara="weltTiredSweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="nokiaSmileHandUpClose-up" position="left"/>
|
|
<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">Ha ha ha … Actually, everything's gotten much better after he started going to school. Anyway, my wife's work is valuable and deserving of our support.</speak>
|
|
<hide position="left"/>
|
|
<hide position="right"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaAngryDressClose-up" position="center"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Whatever, your top priority now is to memorise your name. And your surname. Every single letter. Don't you dare think about anything else! There'll be plenty of time to do that on the plane!</speak>
|
|
<text>Twintails grips the back of Welt's collar, and fiercely “exhorts” him with those menacing words — before purposefully turning towards the mophaired girl seated next to her.</text>
|
|
<hide position="center"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left" />
|
|
<show chara="einNormalCoatClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">But … that said, is it still that hard to get anyone to do anything with me?</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Even if it's in such a boring place as an airplane?</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="einFoolCoatClose-up" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="einNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<show chara="einFoolCoatClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left" />
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">What now? Last time, you didn't play with me, and instead read a book all by yourself. As if your time is simply too precious to keep me company.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaBoringDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="einNormalCoatClose-up" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="einNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<text>Mophead stares expressionlessly into Twintails' eyes.</text>
|
|
<speak chara="einNoFace">This time we're sharing a double room.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="einNormalCoatClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaNormalDressClose-up" position="left" />
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaSmileDressClose-up" position="left" />
|
|
<shake position="left" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">WOW!</speak>
|
|
<shake position="left" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">REALLY, REALLY? No single rooms this time? Hahaha, that's fantastic! </speak>
|
|
<shake position="left" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace"> I love you Liserl! Love you to death!</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaSmileDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="einFoolCoatClose-up" position="right"/>
|
|
<bgm src="themeTesla.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
|
|
<speak chara="einNoFace"> — But only if you promise to dress properly after drinking alcohol and taking your bath …</speak>
|
|
<show chara="einFoolCoatClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaNormalDressClose-up" position="left" />
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaNormalDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="nokiaSmileHandUpClose-up" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<show chara="weltShySweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<show chara="weltShySweaterClose-up" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaShameDressClose-up" position="left" />
|
|
<shake position="left" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">S-such a tease …</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaSmileDressClose-up" position="left" />
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">How could that possibly be true … Aha ha ha …</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaSmileDressClose-up" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="weltScaredSweaterClose-up" position="right"/>
|
|
<shake position="right" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">… Wait, so what I saw before was really — </speak>
|
|
<hide position="left"/>
|
|
<hide position="right"/>
|
|
<sound src="hit man.mp3"/>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace"> — UWAAHHH?!</speak>
|
|
<text>Before the poor young man in the front seat could react, he was already clutching his head, groaning, and falling back into his seat.</text>
|
|
<show chara="teslaAngryDressClose-up" position="center"/>
|
|
<shake position="center" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Welt, shut your trap!!</speak>
|
|
<goto goto="50"/>
|
|
</scene>
|
|
<scene id="50" background="planeNoon.jpg">
|
|
<bgm src="serenity.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
|
|
<sound src="8_24_launch.mp3"/>
|
|
<text>The first leg from London to New York.</text>
|
|
<text>Eight hours.</text>
|
|
<text>Then transfer to a flight to Chicago. </text>
|
|
<text>Two hours.</text>
|
|
<text>Then the final leg to Billings.</text>
|
|
<text>Another two hours.</text>
|
|
<text>This does not include time spent waiting to board or change flights — which will be considerable despite the fact they are VIPs.</text>
|
|
<text>With the expectation of such a long journey, the roar of the jet engine is even more sleep-inducing than usual …</text>
|
|
<text>… Especially when the scenery outside the window is an endless monotony of vast ocean.</text>
|
|
<text>So, even when Welt is awoken by an urge to pass urine — </text>
|
|
<text> — For a while, he hesitated to leave his seat.</text>
|
|
<text>He lifts the right arm of the lightly-snoring Twintails that had been draped across his body; and he helps the Finn on the other side of the aisle pick up his glasses that had fallen to the floor — </text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text> — Only after stepping into the aisle does Welt notice that, among the travellers sleeping left and right, Einstein is still awake, sitting by a window and reading a book in the light.</text>
|
|
<text>It seems that, every now and then, she is also jotting or scribbling something into her notebook.</text>
|
|
<show chara="einSmileVestClose-up" position="center"/>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">I'm going to the restroom for a while.</speak>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Understood.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<text>The messy-haired girl wrote on a slip of paper and held it up with her hand.</text>
|
|
<text>Is she reminding him not to disturb other people's sleep?</text>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<text>Feeling embarrassed, the young man decides to get on with it and move towards the restroom.</text>
|
|
<goto goto="55"/>
|
|
</scene>
|
|
<scene id="55" background="planeNoon.jpg">
|
|
<bgm src="serenity.mp3" status="continue"></bgm>
|
|
<text>At this moment, no one is waiting in the queue, so Welt is quickly able to address his particular physiological need.</text>
|
|
<choices>
|
|
<x goto="60" change="black">Maybe I should continue sleeping to get rid of this jet lag …</x>
|
|
<y>Why isn't Eins taking a break?</y>
|
|
</choices>
|
|
<bgm src="themeEin.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1" post="U2FsdGVkX19eqZ1UrJe1GmX4HkVk">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Not taking a break?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<hide position="center"></hide>
|
|
<text>“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Welt decides to hand her back a note.</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">I'm just reading something quite interesting.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<hide position="center"></hide>
|
|
<text>It is written on the note passed back to him.</text>
|
|
<text>The temperature in the cabin becomes a little cold, and the young man cannot decide whether he should put on a coat.</text>
|
|
<show chara="teslaBlackDressClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text>Naturally, Twintails is still sleeping blissfully between the two of them.</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">What is it?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Riemann conjecture.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Math problem?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<div class="article-pic" picsrc="zeta_function.png" style="background-position:left;"/>
|
|
<p class="article-text-h" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">All non-trivial zeros of the analytic continuation are on the line 1/2 + ti.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Absolutely no idea.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Not surprising. And people who lack knowledge of complex functions will find it hard to understand.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">You only need to know that it can be considered the Holy Grail of the entire mathematical community.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Holy Grail?!</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">For example, if it holds true, from the generalized Reimann Conjecture, Goldbach's conjecture can be easily proven.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Do you know what Goldbach's conjecture is?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">No, I don't …</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Any odd number greater than 5 can be expressed as the sum of three primes;</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Any even number greater than 2 can be expressed as the sum of two primes.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">…</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">All in all, sounds impressive.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Do you want to solve these conjectures?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">No, I don't.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">They are completely beyond my abilities.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Moreover, my main business is not mathematics. It's just that Riemann had a great influence on me, that's all.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Was he your … maths teacher</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">You could say so.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">He certainly didn't know me, and it was impossible for him to know that my general theory of relativity was based on his Riemannian manifolds.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">After all, he was a historical figure from more than a hundred years ago. He was dead by the time my grandpa was born.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<hide position="center"></hide>
|
|
<text>It takes the young man a while to digest the general meaning of that statement.</text>
|
|
<text>He decides to ask a question that may be a little easier for her to explain — </text>
|
|
<text> — if only so that he can continue following the conversation.</text>
|
|
<show chara="teslaBlackDressClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text>… Especially while a certain Twintails remains asleep.</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">General relativity?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">In simple terms, it is a theory that universal gravitation is equivalent to the distortion of time and space.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">…</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Is there a metaphor or image I can imagine?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">You must have seen a whirlpool before.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Imagine a wooden ball falling into the whirlpool. Does it look like it is sucked into the hole in the centre?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Yes.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;"> — Do you mean that gravity is also an illusion like this?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">That's right.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">We know that for the wooden ball, the twisting water surface is the direct cause of its spiral motion.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">The same is true for a planet.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Any object will rely on its own mass to distort the space and time they are in, forming a vortex that attracts other objects.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Gravity is just a manifestation of this distortion.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Imagine that the surface of the earth is full of such ripples, and our plane is surfing on it.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">This feels like some kind of philosophy …</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Physical theory without mathematical notation is philosophy.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">That's why Sir Newton's masterpiece is called “The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy”.</p> <!-- Or perhaps "Dame Newton", given the gender-swapping in the Honkai universe. -->
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">I haven't read that book …</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">You won't find it easy to understand.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">The mathematical notation of that era is itself indecipherable for most modern readers.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Indecipherable …</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Speaking of which, what was that weird text in Schrödinger's letter that I couldn't understand?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">A name.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">The name of an information processing device from 50,000 years ago.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<hide position="center"></hide>
|
|
<text>The content of this sentence is so unexpected that Welt remains perplexed for a while.</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">What?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<hide position="center"></hide>
|
|
<text>The other party simply draws a line silently under the words “information processing device”.</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">So … what is an “information processing device”?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Imagine a librarian made of machinery, or a library with automatons as its administrators.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">… Automatic machinery?</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">… Fifty thousand years ago?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">From your perspective …</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Just treat it as a cliff-hanger, a taste of things to come.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);">☺</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Please tell me now.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Too much trouble.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Please.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Someone will tell you in due course.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Someone whom I reckon will not be afraid of this inconvenience — so please spare me the trouble.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);">☺</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">Whoa, Eins is so mean.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;">☹</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Of course I am. </p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">p.s. Now that I think of it, I find your tone pathetic.</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<hide position="center"></hide>
|
|
<text>The young man had no choice but to stick out his tongue.</text>
|
|
<text>The girl responds in kind.</text>
|
|
<text>While doing so, she also takes the note back from him.</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Let's use this opportunity to attend math class. </p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">… Are you serious?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Of course.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Do you know how to prove e^(πi) + 1 = 0? </p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">How could I know?!</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Oh. Should we start with the fundamental theorem of calculus?</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">No, since I need to teach you, maybe it's better to start by learning Dedekind cuts? </p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Ah, at this point, I think we're better off just starting from the very basics with set theory … </p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="weltBlackClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:#EDEDED;font-style:italic;">… Can I choose to sleep?</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<show chara="einBlackVestClose-up" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<text article="1">
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Okay.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);font-style:italic;">Then I can read more books by myself.</p>
|
|
<br />
|
|
<p class="article-text" style="color:rgb(181,233,247);">☺</p>
|
|
</text>
|
|
<hide position="center"></hide>
|
|
<show chara="einLveCoatClose-up" position="center"/>
|
|
<text>And as she passes the note, the girl sticks out her tongue with an even more innocent expression.</text>
|
|
<text>It is as if she is saying — </text>
|
|
<text>“Want to chat with me? You're a hundred years behind.”</text>
|
|
<goto goto="70"/>
|
|
</scene>
|
|
<scene id="60" background="Memory2.jpg">
|
|
<bgm src="8_24_war.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
|
|
<text post="U2FsdGVkX18wrTH4A0Mz6Lys852r">…</text>
|
|
<text>… …</text>
|
|
<text>Countless people killed.</text>
|
|
<text>Countless buildings, the pride and joy of those very people, incinerated and destroyed.</text>
|
|
<text>I have long since grown numb to their desperate wailing.</text>
|
|
<text>Now, these survivors, like cockroaches … How are they going to deal with me?</text>
|
|
<text>Eviscerate me live, cut out my Herrscher Core, then hang me like a dog in public?</text>
|
|
<text>… … …</text>
|
|
<shake position="all" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<sound src="8_24_womanLaugh2.mp3"/>
|
|
<speak chara="redNoFace">HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!</speak>
|
|
<text>Quite interesting, isn't it?</text>
|
|
<text>A strange weapon that can distort space-time and create blackholes, is that the way it gains its power?</text>
|
|
<text>So marvelous … And you lot can unleash its power as often as you like …</text>
|
|
<text>… But one day, it will use power a hundred-fold stronger than I am now, to seek vengeance against you!</text>
|
|
<shake position="all" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<sound src="8_24_womanLaugh2.mp3"/>
|
|
<speak chara="redNoFace">HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!</speak>
|
|
<text>And when that time comes, I really hope you won't lower me from the gallows — </text>
|
|
<text> — in that case, won't it be a perfect time and place for me to witness with my own eyes, the miserable demise predestined for you?</text>
|
|
<shake position="all" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<sound src="8_24_womanLaugh2.mp3"/>
|
|
<speak chara="redNoFace">HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!</speak>
|
|
<goto goto="65"/>
|
|
</scene>
|
|
<scene id="65" background="planeNoon.jpg">
|
|
<bgm src="serenity.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
|
|
<shake position="all" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<sound src="8_24_pant.mp3"/>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">… …</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">… … …</speak>
|
|
<text>Awakened by that crazed laughter, Welt sits weak and limp in his seat, his mouth wide open and gasping for air, the blue veins of both temples twitching and pulsating.</text>
|
|
<text>That nightmare just now, it felt much too real — so real that Welt begins to wonder if it was a flashback from his true memory.</text>
|
|
<text>“Herrscher”.</text>
|
|
<text>Welt had heard this term before while he was in the previous labs.</text>
|
|
<text>According to conclusions drawn from ancient manuscripts, when the instantaneous power output of a Honkai eruption reaches over 1000HW, there is a chance for an existence called a “Herrscher” to be born within the disaster zone.</text>
|
|
<text>The “Herrscher” is a monster transformed from a human who is highly adaptable to Honkai Energy — </text>
|
|
<text> — These women can use the supernatural power originating from the “Core of the Herrscher” to destroy the human world with impunity.</text>
|
|
<text>Yes, “women”. More than a dozen Herrschers had been recorded in ancient literature, and with no exceptions, all of them were female.</text>
|
|
<text>Generally speaking, the adaptability of males to Honkai Energy is much lower than that of females — and the Herrscher is the ultimate manifestation of that adaptability.</text>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<text>There are no Herrschers in the world today. Also, those various statements referring to them in ancient literature may be nothing more than crude creation myths.</text>
|
|
<text>But one thing continues to make the young man Welt feel uneasy: in his dream, the woman whose form he had taken, why were her thoughts so chilling and frightful?</text>
|
|
<speak chara="einNoFace">Zzz …</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Zzz …</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">Zzz …</speak>
|
|
<text>Looking to his left and right, he sees his companions all immersed in their own personal dreams.</text>
|
|
<speak chara="weltNoFace">… Don't think too much, a nightmare is just a coincidence, a stroke of bad luck, nothing else.</speak>
|
|
<goto goto="68" change="0"/>
|
|
</scene>
|
|
<scene id="68" background="black">
|
|
<bgm src="serenity.mp3" status="stop"></bgm>
|
|
<sound src="deep breath.mp3"/>
|
|
<text>Motivating himself in this way, the young man takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes.</text>
|
|
<text>Just go back to sleep, and wipe my mind clean of that terrible figment of my imagination.</text>
|
|
<goto goto="70"/>
|
|
</scene>
|
|
<scene id="70" background="airportNewYork.jpg">
|
|
<bgm src="themeWelt.mp3" status="start"></bgm>
|
|
<text>New York International Airport.</text>
|
|
<text>Due to the flight spanning five time zones, Welt can still see the afterglow of a setting sun here, even though it has been ten hours since lunch.</text>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left"/>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">Dr Einstein, Dr Tesla.</speak>
|
|
<text>Two strangers suddenly interrupt Welt's reverie.</text>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="nokiaSeriousFar" position="center"/>
|
|
<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">Excuse me, who might you two be …?</speak>
|
|
<text>The Finn stands vigilantly in front of the two ladies.</text>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left"/>
|
|
<show chara="nokiaSeriousFar" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">Dr Einstein, we should have met before.</speak>
|
|
<text>This middle-aged man has a deep voice. Welt feels as though he too had heard his voice before.</text>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="einSeriousCoatFar" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="einNoFace">What can I do for you?</speak>
|
|
<text>The mophaired girl responds emotionlessly, as if they had never been acquainted.</text>
|
|
<show chara="einSeriousCoatFar" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left"/>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">The Old Man hopes this will be of help to you.</speak>
|
|
<text>The middle-aged man takes a scroll case from his leather briefcase, and hands it to the Finn.</text>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">You are an expert in ancient manuscripts, right?</speak>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="nokiaSeriousFar" position="center"/>
|
|
<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">For the time being …</speak>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left"/>
|
|
<show chara="nokiaSeriousFar" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">Then you should recognize this.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="nokiaSeriousFar" position="center"/>
|
|
<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<text>The Finn opens the wooden box dubiously, and pulls out a tattered piece of parchment that appears to have only been recently restored.</text>
|
|
<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">Aramaic …</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">“Judgement Day” … “Sacrifice” … “Song” …</speak>
|
|
<shake position="center" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<speak chara="nokiaNoFace">This verse … C-could this be the Dead Sea Scrolls?</speak>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left"/>
|
|
<show chara="nokiaSeriousFar" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">Hehe … indeed you recognise it.</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">Not bad. This is part of the scroll that has never been released publicly. I hope that the secrets within will be useful to your research.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaNormalDressFar" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">So, the Overseer, what exactly does he need us to do?</speak>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaNormalDressFar" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">Nothing.</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">The Old Man just hopes to give Lab 42 a hand in their research — that is all.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaSnickerDressFar" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">In other words … He has high expectations for our research this time, yes?</speak>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaSnickerDressFar" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">Of course.</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">He looks forward to reading your thesis.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaSnickerDressFar" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Okay, okay, I understand.</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">The point of our activities here is to not let the North American branch monopolise the results, right?</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaBoringDressFar" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">To muster people and mobilise resources for such a trivial reason, relations between the European and North American branches must be quite sour indeed.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaBoringDressFar" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="blackTwo" position="left"/>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">Ah yes. Here's a souvenir, please kindly accept.</speak>
|
|
<text>The middle-aged man no longer pays any attention to Tesla, but instead takes out a box of luxurious-looking chocolate from his leather briefcase, and hands it to Einstein.</text>
|
|
<speak chara="blackNoFace">Well, see you next time.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="nokiaSeriousFar" position="left" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="teslaBoringDressFar" position="center"/>
|
|
<show chara="einSeriousCoatFar" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaEmbarraDressFar" position="center"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Tut.</speak>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">That man liked to talk around the point, but I could tell that they still have that same old authoritarian streak. After all, the tail cannnot be allowed to wag the dog, and a tree trunk must remain strong while its branches remain light. Now that a new branch finally prospers, they have come to fear it. And so they turn against it faster than turning the pages of a book.</speak> <!-- 说的不疼不痒 = "Speaking neither of pain nor of itch"; 尾大不掉 = "A large tail will not be easy to discard or control"; 翻脸比翻书还快 = "turn about face faster than turning the pages of a book" -->
|
|
<show chara="teslaEmbarraDressFar" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="einNormalCoatFar" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="einNoFace">…</speak>
|
|
<text>Einstein remains non-committal in her non-response, and silently peels away the wrapping paper from a piece of chocolate.</text>
|
|
<show chara="teslaAngryDressFar" position="center"/>
|
|
<show chara="einNormalCoatFar" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">Hey! I'm speaking to you, Mophead! Just a box of chocolate is enough to win you over?!</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaAngryDressFar" position="center" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<show chara="einSmileCoatFar" position="right"/>
|
|
<speak chara="einNoFace">If I don't eat it, Mr Cocoa Farmer will be upset.</speak>
|
|
<show chara="teslaAngryDressFar" position="center"/>
|
|
<show chara="einSmileCoatFar" position="right" opacity="0.7"/>
|
|
<shake position="center" time="250"></shake>
|
|
<speak chara="teslaNoFace">… Are you even listening to me?!</speak>
|
|
<end post="U2FsdGVkX19iYggwjfZZvGuXAWk9"/>
|
|
</scene>
|
|
</story>
|
|
</data>
|