People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Weren't you scared at the time?

Ernst gave a wry smile. He thought it was true.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have done that—changing himself into a Zhongshan suit that was completely out of step with the unspoken rules of his previous job, and pinning on a medal that wouldn't normally be worn in an informal setting. He also looked exhausted and desperate.

No wonder, wasn't he just changing into a piece of clothing he wanted to wear but never dared to wear normally, to use as a funeral shroud?

Precys's words were simple, something about "the research hitting a bottleneck and needing information from him," seemingly just a passing mention, but Ernst knew all too well.

He had witnessed human experimentation before in this life. Ernst knew at a glance how much pain the Flame Demon experiment that Rhine Lab conducted on Ifrit had caused that child and how much sedative was needed to forcibly quiet her down!

And this is just in ordinary times, in times of peace. The pre-civilization era was apocalyptic, a time when civilization was on its last legs, a time when everything was tilting and sliding towards the abyss!

Whether it's the prophets or Prisses, they are conducting desperate research for the future of humanity. Previous civilizations clearly possessed methods far superior to those of the Terrans. What tricks could they possibly pull? From what outrageous angles could they explore every inch of possibility? To what extent could they be ruthless in their methods?

And what kind of pain did I endure at that time?

Ernst couldn't imagine it; it was beyond his knowledge and beyond his capacity to bear.

He could only look at Priscilla silently.

;珸;”綺硫:陆—~肆誀炤】输�quN: The guilt in a woman's eyes is real, the gratitude is real, and the expectation is even more real than it could be.

She has not told Ernst a single lie so far; she is telling the truth and revealing her true feelings.

Ernst didn't blame them, because it was understandable; in the apocalypse, moral standards can be flexible enough in order to survive.

But after seeing the current state of the preserver and hearing his lament of "33,000 years of lonely vigil," Ernst could somewhat understand himself back then.

His exhaustion and despair were probably not limited to "being unable to save his friends from the previous civilization," but also stemmed from his genuine physical and mental exhaustion from "the endless, almost torturous experiments."

He made that choice back then perhaps because he really felt that "if there's work to be done, I'll live and contribute what I can, and see you in the future," or "if there's no work to be done, I'll just die and be done with it."

But as it turns out, "amber," like "lumberjack," is just a simple metaphor for easy understanding.

His characteristics are not limited to his body, but also include his soul. Even if his body is taken away and becomes the original stone used to create the "First Originium", his soul can still be revived.

However, within the contents of the amber, that is, the dust outside the memories of the previous Earth, those memories of the pre-civilization were indeed gently brushed away, just as Precys had said.

Sorry?

Ernst rarely felt regret for things he had no recollection of; he only felt a slight pang of sadness.

Because the previous civilization was destroyed, and the current "vibrant life and flourishing of all things" on Terra is proof of that.

The ancient civilization, including figures like the Preservator Trevor Friston, has been buried three thousand meters underground on the outskirts of Tremont. If it weren't for Christensen's exceptional digging skills, these ancient ruins would never have been discovered. Meanwhile, Originium, the artificial amber created based on his Amber Body, has become a highly efficient energy source used by the people of Terra. Its true effects remain unknown.

He resurrected Ersi (娰六四SOUSUO:), but the salvation failed.

"No, there was no failure!"

Precys suddenly spoke, interrupting Ernst's inner sigh.

Ernst once again complained about the troublesome form of "debate".

It felt really strange to have everything you think transmitted. Especially for someone like Ernst, who loved to think, it was a bit like having your underwear exposed.

But then again, he also noticed Precys's sudden loss of composure.

She remained calm and composed, always smiling, and patiently answered Ernst's questions.

But when Ernst mentioned the failed Originium Project, she visibly became agitated.

After initially denying it, Precys offered an explanation:

"Project Originium has not failed; it just needs time."

“Ernst, please believe that your sacrifice was not in vain. With the help of the blueprint, the Prophet and I completed most of the Originium setup, but the end of the world is just around the corner, and we are simply too late.”

"But the preliminary preparations have allowed us to store a large amount of information within it. And the self-evolution of Originium will ensure that it gradually becomes perfect. Although it was too late last time, this time, the Originium Project is proceeding in an orderly manner. It can help us survive the next disaster!"

Can Originium evolve on its own?

This was the first time Ernst had heard of this.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Since Originium is based on a blueprint it created, it will grow up, grow hair, and its bones will heal themselves if they break. Why can't Originium grow up?

Although it's not very useful for the time being, it's still good to hear this news.

However, perhaps due to his habitual tendency to consider things from multiple perspectives, or perhaps simply because of the analogy he had just heard, Ernst had some doubts and asked another question:

"So how can we make it perfect?"

In another context, this sentence can be interpreted as: "So, what's the price?"

Even a program capable of continuous self-improvement requires a constant supply of energy to operate; broken bones need a continuous supply of nutrients to heal. What does Originium need to perfect itself?

Precys fell silent, a rare occurrence.

Ernst frowned slightly, not because Precys hadn't answered him immediately, but because he suddenly noticed something else.

He silently buried his small suspicion in his heart, and then he saw Precys speak:

"It requires removing impurities, a sufficient number of samples, continuous debugging, and repeated trial and error."

"But we have prepared a very large sample size."

The serene, violet-like girl spoke softly, making...

"The day when Originium covers this land."

Ernst was slightly taken aback, and before she could react to the meaning of those words, Precys walked up to her.

The brown-haired man took the hand of his former compatriot and friend, raised his diamond-shaped eyes, and looked at Ernst with a sincere and earnest gaze that seemed to reach right into his heart.

Her voice rang out, a voice that should have been pleasant to hear, yet instead weighed heavily on one's heart:

"At that time, Originium will be able to complete all the preparations."

"The man-made amber will begin to work, and human civilization will be able to spread throughout the universe again with this amber as its core."

"We will all restart our future, and we can all reconnect with the past."

"What a wonderful ending, isn't it?"

Ernst did not answer.

Firstly, because the question "Is that right?" carries too much weight.

Secondly, it is because—

"Pureseth?"

Ernst called out.

The young female researcher looked up, and their eyes met, as if in response.

A hint of understanding flashed in his eyes, and he raised a question:

"This issue isn't part of the debate, is it?"

Ernst released his grip and gazed at the young researcher who had fallen silent once more, yet still no thoughts of what she was thinking echoed within her.

In a debate, there is no concealment between the debaters and philosophers; thoughts, theories, and even emotions are constantly clashing. To ensure that people do not have difficulty expressing their own meaning due to the limitations of language, their "inner voice" also resonates during the thinking process.

Ernst is a prime example.

But this rule is somewhat unfair.

After all, although Miss Precys in front of him had been telling the "truth" from the very beginning, Ernst had never heard her "true feelings"!

Chapter 638 is still something that is desired.

In a debate, no one can hide their thoughts. All of a person's innermost thoughts and ideas can be directly expressed, achieving barrier-free communication.

These are the rules of "debate" as stated by Priscilla himself.

This clash of ideas is undoubtedly a valuable opportunity to examine one's own inner self. In a way, this may be why prophets and preservers favor this "ancient form."

It is sincere, at least to those who are in the midst of the "debate".

But Ernst noticed something odd.

He was indeed following the rules of "debate," expressing his true feelings, whether it was complaining, lamenting, joy, or sighing. These thoughts and emotions were laid bare to the outside world, which is why he could be so easily understood and why it has been difficult for him to regain the rhythm of the conversation.

But the researcher standing opposite him, named [Priss], seemed to think "that was not the case."

The sheer volume of information initially caused Ernst to overlook this point. His brain was busy processing heavy-duty information such as [Amber], [Lumberjacks], and [Pre-Civilization]. The old processor, which couldn't be upgraded due to its "stability," was practically smoking from being overwhelmed by Precys, and naturally, it didn't have the spare capacity to process this problem.

But when Precys fell into a brief silence when Ernst asked, "How to perfect the Originium?", Ernst, who had already recovered, finally realized the problem.

Her thoughts at that moment were not revealed.

Or rather, she never revealed her true feelings throughout the entire conversation.

The "debate" was never fair from the start. Precys wasn't debating at all; she sat high in the audience like a judge, jury, or lawyer, quietly presenting all the "evidence" she had, and then watched Ernst, who seemed more like a defendant than a debater, gradually waver and become suspicious under her onslaught of evidence, until finally, he was convinced that he had found the "truth."

Ernst had often heard this saying in his previous life.

The most convincing lie is nine parts truth and one part falsehood. The most believable truth is the "truth" one discovers for oneself.

He will always be skeptical of what others tell him, but it's different if he uncovers the truth himself by peeling back the layers of clues.

People will have unwavering faith in this "answer they've come up with themselves" and refuse to listen to any arguments.

The saying "I am the only one who is sober while everyone else is drunk" is a very simplistic expression of this mentality.

But is the truth derived in this way truly the truth? Is the process of arriving at the truth misleading? Can certain things, viewed from another perspective, lead to completely different results?

The answer is yes.

If one calms down and thinks about it carefully, there are many places where Precys can use subtle and euphemistic language.

For example, was the expression on his face when he put it on truly because of sacrifice, or because he was "driven to a dead end by what he considered a friend"? For another example, if he was really as close to Priss and the Prophet were, as Priss said, and even willing to sacrifice himself to protect them and serve as the blueprint for Project Originium, then why did both Kal'tsit and the Preservator have such a strange attitude towards Priss?

Kal'tsit seemed terrified of Prissis, even avoiding mentioning her name. The Preservator, Trevor Friston, upon hearing the word "treasure" mentioned, immediately asked if he had seen Prissis, and seemed slightly relieved after the answer clearly indicated ignorance.

Why do these strange attitudes appear? If we follow Priscilla's own narrative, then her character should almost certainly be that of a scientist who is wholeheartedly devoted to the heavy responsibility of saving human civilization, right?

The famous police officer Shi Qiang once said, "When something seems out of the ordinary, something fishy must be going on!"

Having deduced to this point, the suspicion that Precys must be hiding something is almost certainly valid.

Ernst indeed had no evidence to prove his suspicion, but suspicion itself, and the ability to remain skeptical, requires no evidence.

Besides, even if it is the truth, it doesn't necessarily lead to the truth.

Ernst has seen far too many examples where people speak with utmost sincerity, every word they utter is true, but the truth is almost entirely the opposite of the objective reality.

The simplest example: a survey questionnaire.

Here are a few questions: Do you think human health is important? Do you agree that exercise is good for the body? Do you think it would be a great idea to have the opportunity to run with others, have company, and exercise at the same time? Do you feel that sometimes you need a little supervision when you do things?

Obviously, the vast majority of people would answer yes to these questions.

So, for those of you who answered yes, you must have really loved the Hengshui-style morning exercises when you were in school, right?

Similarly, the reverse is also true. Ernst doesn't even need to give examples; this is the most common tactic, easily using "facts" to steer things in a direction that is not true.

This is why Ernst felt that "inner thoughts" and "the truth" were not the same thing.

So Ernst pulled his hand away from Precys' grasp and revealed the truth:

"This shouldn't be the topic of debate, right?"

Precys gripped the air, tightened his grip, and then let go with a hint of helplessness.

She looked at Ernst, her face showing no anger. It seemed that being seen through was something she had expected.

"These are not."

She told the truth again, just like before; she was unwilling to lie to Amber.

"Debate is an interrogation of the subconscious and the inner self, a collision of thoughts and souls, and an arena for the beasts of thought."

"You have absolutely no knowledge of Originium. No matter how much you think inward, you would never ask such a question."

"If you ask that question, then it is my dereliction of duty."

She smiled and said something that sent a chill down Ernst's spine: "Three-Five"

"Because that means I didn't clean it properly when I was dusting it."

Dust is the memory of the earth, beyond the memory of the amber itself, and other later memories.

To perfectly study the model of [natural amber], Precys personally brushed away the dust covering it. Perhaps for the sake of simplicity and speed, or perhaps because the pre-civilization at that time had indeed reached its end and simply did not have the time or ability to find another effective method, this wiping process was carried out through physical erasure, which in theory would "erasure memories".

Therefore, not wiping it clean enough is another way of saying "not killing it thoroughly enough".